Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What is the primary function of the stamen in a flower?

1. To attract pollinators

2. To produce male gametes

3. To protect the ovules

4. To support the flower structure

The correct answer is: To produce male gametes

The stamen is the male reproductive part of a flower and plays a crucial role in the process of reproduction. Its primary function is to produce male gametes, which are pollen grains. These pollen grains contain the sperm cells necessary for fertilization. When pollinators such as bees or butterflies visit the flower, they inadvertently collect pollen from the stamen, which can then be transferred to the female reproductive parts of the same flower or to another flower, enabling fertilization to occur. In contrast, while some aspects of other options relate to the flower's overall role in reproduction, they do not encapsulate the primary function of the stamen. Attracting pollinators is indeed an essential aspect of the flower's lifecycle, but this role is more closely associated with the petals and the overall flower structure rather than the stamen itself. The function of protecting ovules relates to the ovary and surrounding structures, which serve to safeguard the developing seeds, while supporting the flower structure generally refers to parts like the peduncle and receptacle, rather than the reproductive role of the stamen. Thus, the main role of the stamen as it pertains specifically to reproduction centers on its capacity to produce pollen, the male gametes.