A staminate flower contains stamens only while a pistillate flower only contains carpels or pistils. This is the major difference. Stamens are male reproductive organs while pistils are female reproductive structures.
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Out of the many other structures of a flower, stamens and pistils are the reproductive parts. In angiosperms, they participate in reproduction. Stamens consist of anthers and filaments which enclose male gametes. Pistil on the other hand is a female reproductive structure consisting of stigma, ovary and style. Though almost all flowers can be classified into pistillate and staminate flowers, some flowers have both male and female structures in the same flower.
Staminate Flowers
- Consists of male reproductive structures only and is an androecious or male flower
- Stamen, the male reproductive structure has two parts – filament and anther
- It does not contain activated female reproductive parts
- Cucumber a dioecious plant produces staminate flowers Chrysanthemum produces disc florets which are staminate flowers
Pistillate Flowers
- Consists of female reproductive structures only known as the carpels or pistils
- They do not have activated stamens. But they have a swollen base due to the presence of the ovary
- Carpels have three parts – style, stigma and ovary
- Pistillate flowers obtain pollens from other flowers for fertilization
- Example – cucumber has pistillate flowers while bearing staminate flowers separately
Difference between Staminate and Pistillate Flowers
The table below depicts a few differences between Staminate and Pistillate Flowers
| Staminate Flowers | Pistillate Flowers |
| What are they? | |
| Flower structures possessing stamens only | Flower structures possessing pistils only |
| Flower type | |
| Uni sexual Male flowers | Uni sexual Female flowers |
| Stamens | |
| Active stamens present | Active stamens absent |
| Pistils | |
| Active pistils absent | Active pistils present |
| Produce | |
| Pollen grains | Ovules |
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