What is the transfer of pollen from the male stamen to the female stigma called?

The correct answer is pollination because it specifically refers to the process where pollen from the male reproductive part (the stamen) of a flower is transferred to the female reproductive part (the stigma) of the same flower or another flower. This process is crucial for plant reproduction since it facilitates the fertilization of ovules, leading to the formation of seeds and fruit.

Fertilization, while related to reproduction, occurs after pollination. It involves the fusion of male and female gametes, which happens once the pollen grains successfully reach the stigma and travel down to fertilize the ovule.

Germination refers to the process by which a seed develops into a new plant and is not involved in the transfer of pollen or fertilization.

Reproduction is a broader term that encompasses both pollination and fertilization, as well as the entire life cycle of plants, but it does not specifically define the action of pollen transferring from stamen to stigma. Therefore, pollination is the precise term that captures this initial step in the reproductive process of flowering plants.