What Is a Catkin?
A catkin, also known as an ament, is a dense, elongated, and drooping cluster of flowers without petals. Most commonly, the flowers found on a catkin are of one sex. In some trees, such as the poplar, both male and female flowers are present. Catkins are typically found on trees which are wind pollinated, such as oak, birch, willow, and hickory. A few herbaceous plants, like stinging nettle, also produce catkins. Most catkins form prior to the foliage leaves, to allow for wind pollination. The wind carries pollen from a male or female catkin to a flower of the opposite sex, usually in a different form, such as a flower spike. In rare cases, catkins may be insect pollinated, but they most often rely on the wind to complete this process. Depending on the specific plant, catkins will form in the late winter to late summer, and will produce flower clusters several weeks after forming. These flowers form into seeds near the end of the growing season, which is usually in the late fall for mo
No, a catkin is not a relative to a feline. A catkin is a spike of flowers, deciduous, as the male flowers of willow, birch, beech and oak. These are the little things that aggravate allergies at this time of year. Not much can be done short of cutting down all trees. Question: I have a peach tree in my yard, and the peaches have worms in them. When shouId I spray it? Answer: You are just a few months too late. Spraying of fruit trees begins in late winter and continues until time to harvest. The University of Arkansas Extension Office has spray schedules to follow. They are free for the asking. Question: I have a young magnolia tree that just doesn’t look healthy. Have you any suggestions as to special care for it? Answer: If there is no sign of insect damage or disease, there are some possibilities that precede a problem. Magnolias prefer an acid soil, so give the tree a dose of acid fertilizer according to the package instructions. Another possibility is overwatering with poor drain
