Stamen

Stamen

The stamen is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium.

Morphology and terminology

A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament and an anther which contains microsporangia. Most commonly anthers are two-lobed and are attached to the filament either at the base or in the middle area of the anther. The sterile tissue between the lobes is called the connective.

Function

A typical, entomophilous (insect-pollinated) stamen consists of a pollen-producing anther attached to a filament. The pollen is released when the anther's two lobes open up. This process is called dehiscence.

Types of stamen

Stamens can be categorized in a number of ways:

• By attachment to the perianth
• By number
• By length
• By anther attachment
• By anther dehiscence
• By pollen release

Evolution

The stamen is thought to have originated in the sporangia of the ancient, extinct group of plants known as the progymnosperms.

See also

• Androecium
• Anther
• Filament
• Flower
• Pollen

References

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External links

• Britannica Online Encyclopedia

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