What are the male and female structures within a flower called?

The male and female structures within a flower are referred to as the stamen and pistil. The stamen is the male reproductive part of the flower, responsible for producing pollen, which contains the male gametes. It typically consists of a filament and an anther.

On the other hand, the pistil is the female reproductive part and is involved in ovule production. It consists of the ovary, style, and stigma, where the ovules are fertilized and develop into seeds. Understanding these definitions is crucial, as they highlight the roles of each structure in the reproductive process of flowering plants.

Contextually, other choices do not accurately represent the male and female reproductive structures. For instance, while the stamen is indeed male, the ovary is part of the pistil, which is not solely male but rather female. Seed, referenced in one option, is the product of fertilization within the ovule of the pistil, not its structure. Additionally, petal and sepal refer to parts of the flower that serve protective and aesthetic functions rather than reproductive roles.