Stamens are the male parts of a flower.
Did you know the largest flower found on earth weighs fifteen pounds and can grow up to three feet! It is called the Rafflesia Arnoldii. And the smallest is the Wolffia and it is the size of a grain of rice. Flowers are more than pretty things, they are responsible for the reproduction of plants and are absolutely essential. Let us learn more about them.
Plants are majorly classified on basis of presence or absence of flower into flowering and non- flowering plants. A flower is a characteristic feature of flowering plants and is actually an extension of the shoot meant for reproduction. Flowers are attractive and appear in different colours and shapes to attract pollinators who help in pollen transfer.
Parts of a Flower
Most flowers have four main parts: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. The stamens are the male part whereas the carpels are the female part of the flower. Most flowers are hermaphrodite where they contain both male and female parts. Others may contain one of the two parts and may be male or female.
Peduncle: This is the stalk of the flower.
Receptacle: It is that part of the flower to which the stalk is attached to. It is small and found at the centre of the base of the flower.
Sepals: These are the small, leaf-like parts growing at the base of the petals. They form the outermost whorl of the flower. Collectively, sepals are known as the calyx. The main function of the calyx and its sepals is to protect the flower before it blossoms(in the bud stage).
Petals: This layer lies just above the sepal layer. They are often bright in colour as their main function is to attract pollinators such as insects, butterflies etc to the flower. The petals are collectively known as the corolla.
Stamens: These are the male parts of a flower. Many stamens are collectively known as the androecium. They are structurally divided into two parts:
Filament: the part that is long and slender and attached the anther to the flower.
Anthers: It is the head of the stamen and is responsible for producing the pollen which is transferred to the pistil or female parts of the same or another flower to bring about fertilization.