Extensive Definition
In botany, a staminode is an often
rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamen. This means that it does
not produce pollen.
Staminodes are frequently inconspicuous and stamen-like, usually
occurring at the inner whorl of the flower, but are also sometimes
long enough to protrude from the corolla.
Staminodes can be a critical characteristic for
differentiating between species, for instance in the orchid genus
Paphiopedilum,
and among the penstemons.
In the case of Cannas the
petals are inconsequential and the staminodes are refined into
eye-catching petal-like replacements.
staminode in Spanish: Estaminodio
staminode in Polish: Prątniczki
staminode in Portuguese:
Estaminódio