Catkin
A catkin is a slim flower cluster (a "spike") that is usually wind-pollinated but sometimes insect-pollinated. It has many flowers arranged closely along a drooping central stem. Usually, it is unisexual.
It is found in many plant families, including Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Moraceae, and Salicaceae. The catkin flower arrangement has arisen at least twice independently by convergent evolution in Fagales and Salicaceae.
References
- ↑ Cronk Q.C.B; Needham I. and Rudall P.J. 2015. Evolution of catkins: inflorescence morphology of selected Salicaceae in an evolutionary and developmental context. Frontiers in Plant Science. 6: 1030.