Tree Flowers

[AndyC]

While looking at the tiny red female hazel flowers the other day a thought struck me (a rare occurance!). I've never seen, or noticed, the female flowers of most trees. A quick search through the Gallery doesn't throw up many either. I guess most of them are small and inconspicous, as well as being well above eye level!

So what does a female oak flower look like, or a male one come to that (I think I've seen catkin type things hit off oaks in April showers). Or any of our other trees?


Andy

[posie]

Hi Andy, we saw a tree last Sunday on the farm here that had very distinct chunky catkins, and also little round 'cones' about as big as marbles, or say the end of a man's thumb. The tree was apparantly Alder, identified by mbaldw, and obviously the catkins the male and the cones the female. I had not realised how attractive the alder's 'bits' are.....Posie...

[artdemole]

Oaks bear searate male and female catkins,on same tree.Open in spring,male catkins are short lived and bunches near twig tips.Long stalks of yellow green flowers.Females are less obvious 2 or 3 flowers long stalks near twig tips

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by posie

Hi Andy, we saw a tree last Sunday on the farm here that had very distinct chunky catkins, and also little round 'cones' about as big as marbles, or say the end of a man's thumb. The tree was apparantly Alder, identified by mbaldw, and obviously the catkins the male and the cones the female. I had not realised how attractive the alder's 'bits' are.....Posie...

Chunky catkins might be black poplar type posie if they were red, or more slender possibly italian alder, but if greenish yellowish with purpleish tones, probably native alder.
But I agree, they are all so pretty - watch out soon for the terrific female red cone flowers of Larch - there are some cracking pics in the Gallery of them.
Cheers
Ken