THE STAMEN
The stamen consists of two parts—the filament and the anther. The filament is the stalk of the stamen. The anther is the little case holding the pollen, or powdery substance, which, falling upon the stigma, is conducted downward into the ovary, where it quickens the ovules into life. The anther normally consists of two cells, which more often open lengthwise for the discharge of the pollen, though they sometimes open by terminal pores or chinks, or by uplifting lids.
Stamens sometimes undergo a morphological change, taking the form of scales or other bodies (as is the case in many of our Brodiæas), when they are called staminodia.