Catkin

Salix

sp.)

A catkin or ament is a slim, cylindrical

.

Occurrence

Catkin-bearing plants include many

]

In many of these plants, only the male flowers form catkins, and the female flowers are single (

In other plants (such as poplar), both male and female flowers are borne in catkins. Such as Populus alba has male catkins which are grey and the female catkins are greyish-green.^[2]

While the blooming months for catkins may vary due to factors such as climate change, the following are some general timeframes: Hazel catkins bloom from January to March, alder catkins from February to March, silver birch catkins from March to May, oak catkins from April to May, and white willow catkins from April to May.^[3]

In Britain, catkins can be seen in January or February, when many trees are bare for winter. They can even occur in December.^[4]

Evolution

For some time, catkins were believed to be a key

inflorescence characters might be and how catkins did evolve in these two lineages.

Etymology

The word catkin is a

Gallery

• Catkins in Fagales
• 
  Male catkins of

  hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia

  )
• 
  Young male catkins of hazel (Corylus avellana)
• 
  Mature male catkins of hazel (Corylus avellana)
• 
  Alnus

  sp.)

• Catkins in Salicaceae
• 
  Young male catkin of a

  Salix

  sp.)
• 
  Three male catkins on a

  Salix

  sp.)
• 
  Female flowering catkin on a

  Salix

  sp.)

References