The male flowers are quite conspicuous, bu 
the female flowers are very small and _ entirels 
hidden in the buds until blooming time, and the 
they merely push out their thread-like crimson 
colored styles at the ex- 
tremities of the buds for 
fertilization. When fertil- 
ized the protruding tops 
of the pistils wither and 
disappear, while the nut- 
bearing parts of the flow- 
er remain intact enclosed 
in the buds awaiting de- 
velopment the following 
summer. 
The nuts vary in shape 
and may be round, oval, 
oblong, conical, ete., and 
often grow in clusters, 
but each nut is enclosed 
in a husk varying in 
length from shorter than 
the nut to lengths extend- 
ing beyond. In most va- 
rieties, the extended husk 
opens at the outer edge, 
POLLEN-PRODUCING CATKIN, 
MALE FLOWER. ARROW POIN 
TO FEMALE FLOWER THAT 
IS FERTILIZED 
but in some it rather contracts than opens, and 
the more contracted forms interfere with the hus’ 
ing of the nuts. 
