Fusion of stamens

Stamens may remain completely free and distinct from one another and from the rest of the flower - a condition called apostemonous - or they may fuse, in one of two broad ways. Connation is fusion among the stamens themselves, and is of three types: adelphy, where the filaments fuse into one or more bundles while the anthers stay free - this is monadelphous when all the filaments join into a single bundle (Malvaceae, e.g. china rose, cotton), diadelphous when they join into two bundles (Fabaceae, pea), and polyadelphous when they join into many bundles (Citrus, Bombax); syngenesious, where the anthers fuse together but the filaments stay free (Asteraceae); and synandrous, where both the filaments and anthers are completely fused together (Coccinea). A sterile stamen that produces no pollen is called a staminode (Cassia). Adnation is fusion of stamens with other floral parts: epipetalous (petalostemonous) stamens are fused to the petals (brinjal, Datura); episepalous stamens are fused to the sepals (Grevillea, silver oak); and epitepalous (epiphyllous) stamens are fused to tepals (Asphodelus, Asparagus). A further, more …