MadSci Network: Botany
Query:

Re: What is the name for male gametes in a flower?

Date: Sun Jan 13 09:33:03 2008
Posted By: Susan Letcher, Grad student, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut
Area of science: Botany
ID: 1199926300.Bt
Message:

Hi Pako,

Pollen is the correct name for the male gametes of a flower. Some of the confusion might arise from the large number of botanical terms for the parts of a flower.

(Here is a good diagram of a flower, so that you can follow along.) The stamens, composed of anthers and filaments, are sometimes referred to as the "male parts" of a flower because they contain pollen and present it to potential pollinators. However, only the pollen grains themselves are the male gametes.


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