Question

What is a staminode?

Answer 1

Androecium :

1. It is composed of a group of stamens.
2. Each stamen represents the male reproductive organ of a plant consisting of a long, slender stalk (filament) terminated at a bilobed structure called an anther.
3. Anther of stamen is a bilobed structure in which each lobe contains two microsporangia which undergo meiotic division to form male gametes called pollen grains.

Staminode:

1. A stamen that is unable to produce pollen grains is known as staminode.
2. Or an abortive stamen which does not participate in reproduction is known as staminode.

Examples :

1. A Lily flower contains sixteen stamens but later on due to evolution becomes sterile.
2. The flower of the Witch Hazel plant in which stamens are modified staminode to produce nectar.