What is a Bilobed Anther?
A bilobed anther is a type of anther with two lobes separated by a septum. This type of anther is commonly found in the androecium of most angiosperms. The androecium consists of the stamens, the male reproductive part of a flower. A stamen has two parts: a long, slender stalk called the filament and a two-lobed pollen-bearing unit called an anther.
Some angiosperms, such as Hibiscus, Cotton, etc., exhibit single-lobed anthers instead of the typical bi-lobed structure. Inside each lobe is a cavity which houses the pollen sacs, producing hundreds of pollen grains for pollination.
Bilobed Anther – Diagram and Structure of an Anther
The bilobed anther is a part of the stamen and serves as the site of pollen production and dispersal. Typically, an anther is bilobed, dithecous, and tetrasporangiate in most angiosperms with a few exceptions. The structure of a bilobed anther consists of two lobes, each containing a pair of microsporangia or pollen sacs called thecae. These thecae are where pollen grains develop and mature.
The two sporangia in each lobe become confluent at maturity and cause lysis of the septum separating them. At maturity, the anther dehisces along a slit termed the stomium to release the pollen. Mature pollen carries sperm cells to the stigma of the female reproductive part for fertilization. In this article, we will read about the bilobed anther diagram and the structure, and function of the bilobed anther.
Table of Content
- What is a Bilobed Anther?
- Bilobed Anther Diagram
- Structure of a Bilobed Anther
- T.S of Bilobed Anther
- Functions of a Bilobed Anther