CATKINS

early March

 

 

CATKINS

are elongate, often dangling cluster of flowers without showy petals but with

the business parts of the flower, the stamens or pistils, interspersed with scaly

structures. Stamens produce the pollen, which needs to land on a pistil for a seed

to develop.

 

SILK TASSEL

Male plants produce long, floppy catkins that pour out pollen when jarred,

in March. Female plants produce stiffer catkins with little pistils peeking out,

waiting for pollen to be blown onto them. Last year's catkins, now with lumps

of berry-like fruit, are still on the tree too.

 

RED ALDER

produces male and female catkins on the same tree.

Male catkins are obvious Feb-April. At first they are hard, stiff, and smooth.

By late March they are floppier, more open, and release clouds of pollen.

The female catkins from last year look like little, round, woody cones (think

pine cone) that have opened up and released their seeds. This year's female

catkins develop as small (1/2 inch) slender, pointy things at the end of twigs

this early in the spring. Later, after being pollinated, they will be round, green

cones.

 

HAZELNUT

is less conspicuous but is another good example of dangly, male catkins Feb-March.

The female flower parts are tiny, but a lovely rose color, peeking out of small,

knob-like catkins along the branch, briefly late Feb-early March.

 

BEACH PINE

produces its catkins in May. Look for clusters of still, purplish, male catkins developing

at branch tips and the globose female catkins, which develop into the pine cones,

farther back.