THE HAZEL. 



207 



THE CATKINS FULLY DEVELOPED (FEBRUARY) 

 AND THE FERTILE FLOWER. 



cylindrical mass around a pendent main axis. To this axis they are 

 attached, with no secondary stalk, such as is found in the catkin of 

 an alder. Each floret consists of four stamens, each split so there 

 appear, at first sight, eight. These are attached to three scales, the 

 inner of which are hidden by the larger outer one. Those at the 

 base of the cylinders are the first to develop, and by the end of 

 February the whole catkin is covered with yellow pollen ; when this 

 is shed it drops off the tree. 



