stamen – the male fertilising organ of a flower

(Pronounced stay-mun)

To remember the meaning of stamen, use the following mnemonic:

"Stay, men!" (stamen) said the sergeant, so the male soldiers continued fertilising the fields. 

The stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flower that consists of two main parts: the anther and the filament. The anther is the enlarged sac-like structure at the top that produces and contains pollen grains, while the filament is the slender stalk that supports and positions the anther within the flower. Most flowers have multiple stamens arranged around the central female parts, and the number of stamens can vary between different plant species. The primary function of the stamen is to produce mature pollen and facilitate its release for pollination. When the pollen is ready, the anthers split open to release the pollen grains, which can then be transferred to the female parts of the same flower or different flowers through various means such as wind, insects, or other pollinators. The filament positions the anther at the optimal height and location within the flower to maximise the chances of successful pollen transfer. 

The stamen works in coordination with the female reproductive parts (carpels) to enable sexual reproduction in flowering plants, making it an essential component of the flower's reproductive system.