what is stamen in flower

A stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flower. It is made up of two parts: the anther and the filament. The anther is the part of the stamen where pollen is produced, while the filament is a slender stalk that supports the anther. The stamens in a flower are collectively called the androecium. The number and arrangement of stamens, as well as the way in which the anthers release pollen, are important taxonomic characteristics for many flowering plants. In self-pollinating flowers, stamens usually surround the female organ of the plant, which is located in the absolute center of the flower (called the pistil).