Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin pollen (“fine flour”), used by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century to describe the spores produced in the anthers of flowers.
1
Usually A fine, granular substance produced in flowers.
2
Biology, Botany, Natural sciencesUsually Pollen grains (microspores) produced in the anthers of flowering plants.
In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.2013 May–June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
3
Obsolete, Usually Fine powder in general, fine flour.
and ther was good wyne of Gascoyne,[…]as well of pollen, as of other vitailes1523–1525, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, Froissart's Chronicles, translation of original by Jean Froissart:
The bran, pollen and gurgions of this grain will be profitable to the miller; […]1796, C. Lorimer, A Letter to the Honourable the Corn Commitee, on the Importation of Rough Rice, as a Supplement to Wheat Flour, London: […] T[homas] Becket, […], →OCLC, page 5:
Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin pollen (“fine flour”), used by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century to describe the spores produced in the anthers of flowers.