The word "anther" refers to the part of a flower's stamen (the male reproductive organ) that produces and contains pollen. It is usually found at the tip of a stalk-like structure called the filament. The anther is crucial for reproduction in flowering plants because it produces pollen grains, which carry the male gametes necessary for fertilization. Essentially, the anther is the pollen-bearing structure of the flower that facilitates pollination.