An anther is the part of a flower that makes and holds pollen, those tiny yellow grains that help plants reproduce. If you've ever brushed against a lily and gotten yellow dust on your clothes, that dust came from the anthers.

The anther sits at the top of a thin stalk called a filament (together, these parts are called a stamen). When the anther is ready, it splits open and releases pollen into the air or onto visiting insects. Bees and butterflies often get pollen from anthers stuck to their bodies, then carry it to other flowers, helping plants make seeds and fruit.

You can easily spot anthers in many flowers. They're often a different color from the petals, like bright yellow, orange, or brown. Next time you look closely at a tulip, rose, or sunflower, those little knobs sticking up in the center with powder on them are the anthers doing their essential work.