Are Roses Male or Female?

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Like most flowers, roses don't fit into categories of male or female. Rather, they combine both male and female reproductive parts within the flower.

Stamen

The stamen of a rose is the part that best corresponds to the male part of the anatomy. These slender filaments within the flower produce pollen.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Video of the Day

Carpal

The carpal, or pistil, is the collective term for all the female parts of the rose.

Parts of the Carpal

When pollen lands on the outermost part of the carpal (the stigma), either from blowing wind or from the body of a flying insect, the pollen germinates and proceeds down the style into the ovary, where it develops into a seed.

references