noun
- The innermost layer of tissue in the anther of a flowering plant, consisting of cells that help release pollen.
Usage: botany; technical
Examples
- The endothecium plays a crucial role in anther dehiscence, the process by which pollen is released.
- Botanists examine the endothecium under a microscope to understand pollen dispersal mechanisms.
- The cells of the endothecium develop thickened walls that help split the anther open.
- In many flowering plants, the endothecium undergoes programmed cell death to facilitate pollen release.