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taining pistils on another, usually growing near 

 by. This makes their study rather puzzling, and 

 it is further complicated because the willows are 

 now in flower, and there is a certain resemblance 

 between them. We may, however, always recognise 

 poplars by their drooping catkins, whilst willow 

 flowers are invariably borne upright upon their stems. 

 The male catkins bearing the stamens are usually 

 the most conspicuous, 

 and often they appear 

 earlier than the female 

 flowers. 



By dissecting a 

 specimen poplar cat- 

 kin from each tree, 

 we can readily trace 

 the different parts, 

 the fringed scales 

 bearing the stamens 

 and small woolly 

 stigmas which catch 

 the pollen-dust 

 brought them by the 

 wind. 



Poplar catkins are usually fertilised by the 

 wind ; they contain no honey, and are therefore 

 unattractive to insects. The willows, having 

 small honey glands, offer three lures to the insect 

 tribe colour, scent, and honey hence we may 

 be sure to find bees and flies frequenting their 

 early blossoms. 



WHITE POPLAR (FEMALE CATKIN). 



