The androecium is defined as the
floral whorl which comprises the
stamens in
angiosperm flowers. In most flowers,
jutting from the center are one or more
filaments supporting a two-
lobed structure which contains the
pollen, called the
anthers. The ensemble of filaments and anthers is the androecium.
The etymology of the term is rather interesting. It comes from the latin for male (andro) and the greek for house (oikion, a diminutive of oikos), and thus the word literally means the "house of man".
It should be noted that this term is also used to describe the packet-like swelling containing the antheridia in liverworts. The structure of this androecium does not resemble that of the angiosperm androecium in any way except general function.