Catkin

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Catkins, or aments, are slim, cylindrical flower clusters, wind-pollinated (anemophilous) and with inconspicous or no petals. They contain many unisexual flowers, arranged closely along a central stem which is often drooping. They can be found in many plant families, including Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Moraceae, and Salicaceae.

In some plants only the male flowers form catkins, and the female is a single flower (hazel, oak), a cone (alder) or another type (mulberry). In others (such as poplar) both male and female flowers are borne in catkins.

Other catkin-bearing plants include birch, willow, hickory, chestnut and sweetfern – many (but not all) are trees or shrubs.

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