Difference Between Trichome and Filament

The key difference between trichome and filament is that trichome is a hair-like fine epidermal outgrowth seen on plants, while the filament is the stalk of a flower stamen that supports an anther.

Plants have different structures that help them in different ways. Trichome and filament are two such structures that are useful. Trichome is an epidermal outgrowth seen on plants. Meantime, the filament is the slender and elongated stalk of the stamen, which bears an anther at the top. Trichome protects the plants from several detrimental effects such as UV light, insects, freeze intolerance, transpiration, etc. Some trichomes also secrete some important secretions. Filament, on the other hand, nourishes the anther in order to produce pollens.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Trichome 
3. What is Filament
4. Similarities Between Trichome and Filament
5. Side by Side Comparison – Trichome vs Filament in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Trichome?

Trichome is an epidermal outgrowth seen as a tiny hair-like structure on the plant stem and branches. In fact, they look like scales present on the plant stem. Trichomes primarily provide protection to the plant against UV light, insects, transpiration, and freeze intolerance.

There may be several types of trichomes as hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae, etc. The most common type is the hair. Hairs can be unicellular or multicellular. They can also be branched or unbranched. Some trichomes may be glandular. Glandular trichomes secrete secretions such as metabolites, essential oils, etc. Non-glandular trichomes protect the plant from UV light.

What is Filament?

A filament is the stalk of the stamen of a flower. Structurally, a filament is a part of the male reproductive organ in flowers. It bears an anther at its apex. So together with the anther, filament makes the male reproductive organ of plants. It is a slender and elongated stalk. Pollens develop inside the anthers. Therefore, filament supports the anther for pollen production. It transports nutrients to anther in order to produce pollens. Moreover, pollinators access the anthers with the help of filaments.

One flower may have several filaments. Once the flower blooms, the filament becomes lengthier, and we can see them arranged in a circle around the inside center of the flower. In some flowers, filaments are fused, and anthers are free. Multiple fused filaments can form a column known as an androphore. But, in most flowers, the filaments are free, and anthers are fused. The filament is fixed to the anther in two ways: basifixed or dorsifixed.

What are the Similarities Between Trichome and Filament?

• Both trichome and filament are two structures or parts seen in plants.
• They are useful structures of plants.

What is the Difference Between Trichome and Filament?

A trichome is a hair-like epidermal outgrowth seen on plants, while a filament is the slender and elongated stalk of the stamen. So, this is the key difference between trichome and filament. Besides, the trichome protects plants from UV light, insects, transpiration and freezes intolerance. At the same time, the filament supports its anther by providing nutrients and holding it for pollinators. Therefore, this is also a significant difference between trichome and filament.

Summary – Trichome vs Filament

Both trichome and filament are useful structures of plants. Trichome is an epidermal appendage, which is a hair-like structure present on plants. Meanwhile, the filament is the stalk of stamen which holds its anther. It is a part of the male reproductive organ of plants. Trichomes are seen in many types of plants, but a filament is unique to flowering plants since it is found inside the flower. Thus, this summarizes the difference between trichome and filament.

Reference:

1. “Stamen.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Oct. 2019, Available here.
2. “Trichome.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Jan. 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Müürlooga (Arabidopsis thaliana) lehekarv (trihhoom) 311 0804” By Heiti Paves – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Amaryllis stamens aka” By André Karwath aka Aka – Own work (CC BY-SA 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia