Stamen
A stamen is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower, typically consisting of an anther borne on a slender filament.
Anther: The pollen-bearing part of a stamen, where pollen grains develop in pollen sacs. It is the stamen’s pollen-producing tip.
Dehiscence: The opening of a mature anther or other plant structure to release its contents. Anther dehiscence releases pollen from the stamen.
Floral formula: A symbolic notation that summarizes the number, arrangement, and fusion of a flower’s organs. Its symbols record stamen number and whether stamens are fused or free.
Carpel: The female reproductive organ of a flower, typically comprising a stigma, style, and ovary. A carpel receives pollen and contains ovules, unlike a stamen, which produces pollen.
Filament (botany): The usually slender stalk that supports a flower’s anther. It positions the anther for pollen release.
Pollen dispersal: The movement of pollen away from its source by wind, water, animals, or other means. Stamens expose pollen to the agents that carry it away.
Floral diagram: A schematic cross-section showing the number, arrangement, and relationships of organs in a flower. It makes stamen position and attachment visible alongside other floral organs.
Pistil: The female flower structure formed by one or more carpels, including the ovary and usually the style and stigma. The pistil is the pollen-receiving counterpart to the pollen-producing stamen.
Microsporangium: A spore-producing structure in which microspores develop; in flowering plants, anther pollen sacs are microsporangia. The anther contains the chambers where pollen forms.
Pollination: The transfer of pollen to a receptive stigma in flowering plants, or to an ovule-bearing structure in other seed plants. Pollen released by stamens must reach a receptive surface.