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A staminode is a sterile or abortive stamen found in some flowers. While stamens are the male reproductive parts of a flower, producing pollen, staminodes do not produce pollen.123

In some cases, staminodes are modified to be petal-like and can be showy, contributing to the flower's appearance, as seen in the cannonball tree. In other instances, they are inconspicuous. The apparent petals in some flowers, like those in the pink family, are actually staminodial in origin. These sterile structures can also be involved in pollination by producing nectar.23

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