Stamen

In botany, the stamen refers to the male reproductive organ of a flower.

Stamens are responsible for producing pollen, which fertilizes the female plant parts called pistils or carpels.

Cannabis plants contain stamens just like other flowering species.

What is a Stamen?

Each stamen consists of two main parts:

Filament – A thin stalk that holds up the anther and connects it to the plant. The filaments provide support and act like bridges between the anther and the flower.

Anther – This is located on top of the filament and produces pollen through microsporogenesis. The anther contains pollen sacs that will eventually split open and release pollen grains to be dispersed for fertilization.

In cannabis plants, the stamen emerges from male flowers clustered into groups towards the top of the plant. The anther heads swell with yellow pollen as the plant reaches maturity.

Once the pollen sacs split open, pollen is carried by wind or insects to female cannabis pistils to achieve pollination.

Breeders look for healthy stamens that generate an abundance of viable pollen when breeding cannabis.

The male genetics largely determine the characteristics passed down to seeds. Isolating male plants and collecting their pollen is crucial for intentional breeding projects.

Outside pollen must be avoided when growing sinsemilla or seedless female cannabis. Understanding the stamen’s role helps cultivators manage plant reproduction.