Crossword clues for catkin
catkin
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Catkin \Cat"kin\ (k[a^]t"k[i^]n), n. [Cat + -kin.] (Bot.) An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. -- so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of Ament.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1570s, from Dutch katteken "flowering stem of willow, birch, hazel, etc.," literally "kitten," diminutive of katte "cat" (see cat (n.)). So called for their soft, furry appearance.
Wiktionary
n. (context botany English) A type of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar.
WordNet
n. a cylindrical spikelike inflorescence [syn: ament]
Wikipedia
A catkin or ament is a slim, cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals, usually wind- pollinated ( anemophilous) but sometimes insect-pollinated (as in Salix). They contain many, usually unisexual flowers, arranged closely along a central stem which is often drooping. They are found in many plant families, including Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Moraceae, and Salicaceae. For some time, they were believed to be a key synapomorphy among the proposed Hamamelididae, also known as Amentiferae (i.e., literally plants bearing aments). Based on molecular phylogeny work, it is now believed that Hamamelididae is a polyphyletic group. This suggests that the catkin flower arrangement has arisen at least twice independently by convergent evolution, in Fagales and in Salicaceae. Such a convergent evolution raises questions about what the ancestral inflorescence characters might be and how catkins did evolve in these two lineages.
In many of these plants only the male flowers form catkins, and the female flowers are single ( hazel, oak), a cone ( alder) or other types ( mulberry). In other plants (such as poplar) both male and female flowers are borne in catkins.
Catkin-bearing plants include many other trees or shrubs such as birch, willow, hickory, sweet chestnut and sweetfern (Comptonia).
The word catkin is a loanword from the old Dutch katteken, meaning "kitten", on account of the resemblance to a kitten's tail. Ament is from the Latin amentum, meaning "thong" or "strap".
carpinifolia in Italy male catkins.jpg |Male catkins of hop-hornbeam ( Ostrya carpinifolia) Corylus avellana-Mont Bart-5124~2015 12 26.JPG |Young male catkins of hazel ( Corylus avellana) |Mature male catkins of hazel ( Corylus avellana) catkins - 3 (2222383499).jpg| Alder female catkins ( Alnus sp.)
|Young male catkin of a willow ( Salix sp.) catkin 2 aka.jpg |Three male catkins on a willow ( Salix sp.) caprea Male.jpg |Detail of a male flowering catkin on a willow ( Salix sp.) female catkin.jpg |Female flowering catkin on a willow ( Salix sp.)
Usage examples of "catkin".
There was always something to be picked at different times of the year, cowslips not butter cups or daisies, they were too common catkins, wood anemones, ferns, bluebells and may, beautiful scented white may.
Our yellow goslings in spring, as they shoot from their silver rabbit-tail catkins, and our palms on Palm Sunday, though it is unlucky to bring one home earlier.
I looked at an alder, laden with brown catkins, its blunt foliage stained with innumerable shades of lovely colour.
Tookhees the wood mouse was there, running over the bush, evidently for the black catkins which still clung to the tips.
Look at that painted butterfly swinging on the honey-laden catkin there.
The Cormyns, the Yatts, and Priscilla Graves, and Pempton, foolish fellow, and that bothering Barmby, and Peridon and Catkin, were the lineing of his nest.
On leaving the church of Saint Fiacre in Horto after the papal blessing the happy pair were subjected to a playful crossfire of hazelnuts, beechmast, bayleaves, catkins of willow, ivytod, hollyberries, mistletoe sprigs and quicken shoots.
I to-day, unwed, as free of thought as yonder bird chasing the catkin down.
It's all right in the country--primroses and catkins and the first daffodils and lambs.
Sunlight glinted in her curls, which were fair as catkin pollen, the same delicate shade as her mother's had been.
Horsey, horsey catkins,'' snarled Hoskins desperately searching for a pseudonym that would deceive anyone listening in on the switchboard.
The usual Quartet: Peridon, Pempton, Colney, Yatt, or Catkin: Priscilla Graves and Nataly--the Rev.
Peridon and Catkin pertained to their genial picture of the dear sweet nest in life.
Barmby, Peridon and Catkin named other dishes, there was the right after-dinner ring in Victor's ears, thanks to the woman of the world who had travelled round to nature and led the shackled men to deliver themselves heartily.
We have no amateur conductor riding ahead: violins, 'cellos, piano, wind-stops: Peridon, Catkin, Pempton, Yatt, Cormyn, Colney, Mrs.