Question

What is meant by monadelphous stamens?

Answer 1

Hint: The stamens are considered the most important part of the flower because it represents the male reproductive organs. The flowering plants can be monadelphous like Crotalaria. When all of the filaments are fused into a single tube, it is called monadelphous, as seen in Malvaceae & Oxalidaceae.

Complete answer:
- Monadelphous stamens are the condition of flowers in which all the filaments of the stamens are united into a single bundle to form a tube-like structure but anthers remain free.
- The term “adelphous” is a (Greek) word that means “brother or male relative.
- The monadelphous androecium is seen in the family Malvaceae. Examples are Hibiscus Gossypium and Althea.
- The main function of the stamen is to produce the pollen grains, which represents male gametes, or sex cells, necessary for reproduction.

Additional information:
When the filaments are fused in two groups, it is called diadelphous, as in the family Fabaceae, such as Astragalus, where nine filaments are fused and one is separate. When filaments are fused in more than two groups, it is called polyadelphous. Examples are Hypericaceae, Rutaceae, and Myrtaceae.

Diagram: In this diagram the stamen of Hibiscus is shown which belongs to the Malvaceae family. It shows the monadelphous condition of stamens.

Note: All the stamens (indefinite in number) in these flowers are united by their filaments (in the basal region) to form a staminal tube. The tips of filaments are free and they bear anthers. The style passes through the staminal tube and emerges out of it to bear stigmas. The monadelphous condition results in a flower with a large central column that bears many anther sacs.