Which part of a flower produces pollen?

The anther is the part of a flower that produces pollen.

It is the pollen-bearing tip of the stamen, the flower’s male reproductive structure. A typical anther contains four microsporangia, or pollen sacs, where pollen develops through meiosis. The stalk supporting it is called the filament; together, filament and anther form a stamen.

When mature, the anther opens through slits, pores, or valves to release pollen. Pollinators such as bees may carry the grains to another flower’s stigma, while wind pollination disperses them through the air. Pollen contains the male gametophyte, which eventually delivers sperm cells to an ovule.

A common mix-up is confusing the anther with the entire stamen. The anther makes and releases pollen, whereas the filament mainly supports it. The ovary is part of the female reproductive structure and contains ovules; petals and sepals are not pollen-producing organs.