Stamen

Stamen is male reproductive organ of a flower. It comprises of a slender stalk called filament and a sac on its tip called anther where pollen develops. When pollen is ready, the anther would open and pollen grains will either drop, blown by the wind, or transported by pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and birds. Often found at the base of stamen, nectaries, an element that produces and discharges 'food rewards' for insects and bird pollinators.

Lycoris radiata's stamens

before their anthers open.

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The stamens are much longer than the tepals.

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Yellow pollen grains at the tip of

opened anthers, ready for pollination.

All photos are © Burke's Garden, 2009.