Which part of a flower produces pollen?
Quick answer
Pollen is produced by the anther, a small sac at the tip of the stamen, the male part of a flower. The anther sits on a thin stalk called the filament. When ripe, the anther splits open and releases pollen, which is carried by wind, insects, birds or other animals to the female part of a flower, the pistil.
Parts of a flower
| Part | Male or female | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Anther | Male | Produces pollen |
| Filament | Male | Holds the anther up |
| Stamen | Male | Anther + filament together |
| Stigma | Female | Sticky tip that catches pollen |
| Style | Female | Tube leading down to the ovary |
| Ovary | Female | Contains ovules, which become seeds |
| Pistil (carpel) | Female | Stigma + style + ovary together |
| Petals | — | Attract pollinators with color and scent |
| Sepals | — | Protect the flower bud |
Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, comes from the stigmas of a crocus; see what spice comes from flower stigmas.
How pollination works
- Pollen moves from an anther to a stigma.
- A pollen tube grows down through the style to the ovary.
- Sperm cells travel down the tube and fertilize an ovule.
- The ovule becomes a seed, and the ovary often grows into a fruit.
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Self-pollination | Pollen reaches a stigma on the same flower or plant |
| Cross-pollination | Pollen comes from a different plant, mixing genes |
Who carries pollen?
- Insects: bees, butterflies, moths and beetles
- Birds: especially hummingbirds
- Bats and some small mammals
- Wind: grasses, many trees and corn
- Water: a few aquatic plants
Bees tell each other where flowers are using a dance; see which insect performs a waggle dance.
Pollen and allergies
Wind-pollinated plants release huge amounts of tiny, light pollen, which causes most hay fever. Flowers pollinated by insects tend to have heavier, stickier pollen.
Pollen tells stories
Each plant species has a distinct pollen shape. Scientists study ancient pollen preserved in lake mud to learn about past climates, and forensic experts use pollen to trace where objects have been.
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