What does stamen mean?
A stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flowering plant. It generally consists of a slender filament, which supports an anther, and anthers produce and release pollen. A flower may have one stamen, several stamens, or many stamens, and their number, shape, and arrangement are often important in plant identification and classification. The word comes from Latin stamen, meaning “thread” or “warp,” a reference to the filament’s narrow, threadlike form. Although stamens are essential to the reproductive cycle of flowering plants, the term is mainly used by botanists, horticulturists, and students rather than in ordinary conversation. It should not be confused with stamina, which means endurance or physical strength. The related word staminate describes a flower or plant that bears male reproductive organs.
nounThe male reproductive organ of a flower, consisting typically of a filament supporting an anther, where pollen is produced.
- The pollen-producing male reproductive organ of a flower.
"Each stamen in the flower bears pollen in its anther."
"The botanist examined the stamens of several species of flowering plant."
"In many flowers, the stamens are arranged around the central pistil."
The standard plural adds -s and is used in botanical and horticultural contexts.
"The stamens release pollen when the flower is mature."
From the Latin word for “thread,” a stamen was named for its slender filament, the structure that holds the pollen-bearing anther.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stamen come from?
The English word stamen comes from Latin stamen, meaning “thread,” “warp,” or “stamen of a flower.” The botanical sense developed because the organ’s slender filament resembles a thread. Latin stamina, related in origin and historically associated with threads or the warp of a loom, was later used in English for endurance or physical strength, giving rise to the familiar word stamina.
Related word forms
How stamen is actually used
In botany, a stamen is a reproductive structure, not simply one of the slender threadlike parts of a flower. The term is primarily used in botanical and horticultural contexts.
Easily confused with stamen
A stamen is a flower’s male reproductive organ, whereas a stem is the plant structure that supports the leaves and flowers.
Stamen is a botanical term for a flower’s male reproductive organ; stamina means endurance or physical strength.