Synandrous describes a condition where the anthers and filaments of the stamens are fused together along their entire length. This phenomenon is notably observed in plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family (gourds).
In simpler terms, imagine the stamen, the male reproductive part of a flower, as having two main parts: the anther (where pollen is produced) and the filament (the stalk that supports the anther). When a flower is synandrous, these stamens are not separate but rather are joined together forming a single structure. This fusion includes both the pollen-producing anthers and the supporting filaments.
The Cucurbitaceae family provides a good example. Many gourds, which thrive in tropical and warm temperate climates, exhibit this synandrous condition.
