Did you know that on each plant there are male and female flowers. We have lots of Hazel's growing in the hedgrows here and alot of them host lichen colonies but up until I started taking macro photographs I never noticed that there were 2 very different flowers/catkins on each stem.
The yellow catkins from the Corylus Contorta are the male flowers.
These are the male catkins from one of the many hazelnut trees along the river bank.
Female flowers are the little sessile red tuffs on the bare swollen stems (above photo taken from a Hazelnut tree along the River Almond)
The Red flowers on the Corylus Contorta Avellena in my own garden - even the catkins are in a bit of a twist.
- The Hazelnut tree relies on wind pollination to transfer the pollen on the yellow catkins to the red female flowers.
- Its from these little red tuffs that the hazelnut develops from.
- A Hazelnut tree has cannot pollinate itself - successful pollination is from neighbouring tree catkins.
I have to say that it was only after seeing these little red tuffs quite near the yellow catkins that made me look on the internet to see what they really were and I am sure I am not alone to be quite surprised that they are infact flowers.
Have you noticed these little tuffs before?
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)
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32 comments:
Yellow catkin males and little sessile red tufts....I wondered where you were going with this post:) Your photos are perfection.
Now I'm going to go click on the sessile link and see what it has to say.
donna
Guess I'll have my own sessiles to look at in a few weeks. We have a lot of wild Trillium that grow in the natural area on the west side of our house.
Thanks for the info.
donna
Wonderful photos, Rosie. My Corylus is just getting ready to bloom for the first time. I promised I wouldn't look while its flowers and catkins were busy being promiscuous.
No I've never seen these small female flowers. They are so tiny but what a gorgeous color. Interesting info: male and female flowers flowers, both spring's miracles.
Dear Rosie, What an informative posting. Thank you so much. I was not aware of any of this until now and I shall, in future, look much more closely.
That's beautiful!
Hi Rosie, I don't know much about trees from colder climes but the info was fascinating. And like Donna said....your photos are perfection!
Always a pleasure to be here. Hope you have a great week ahead!
Beautiful photos Rosie! Very interesting too... I do not have this tree, but thanks to you I know it somewhat now. Happy Spring!
I did not know his. Now I'm going to be looking! An informative post with beautiful pictures. Thanks!
I love corkscrew hazels! Mine are still dormant at the moment, though.
What a beautiful and informative blog you have here!
Thanks for you visit and your kind comment...hope your Ninebark survives your winter! (we've had 4 months of snow and -30C temps, but I have a feeling mine will survive just fine...pretty hardy sort, it is ;D)
I don't think I have ever seen a hazel tree before, so these photos are doubly magical to me!! Such beautiful captures!!
so tiny but so beautiful!!
You've convinced me I've got to get one of these trees!!!
beautiful post!
This is an exotic plant to me ... it's not something I'm familiar with at all. Amazing photos ... they really show off all this corylus' beauty.
Just a quick thanks for visiting my blog ... glad you enjoyed viewing the Yellow Walking Iris and thanks for your lovely comment about the greenhouse garden ... that's still very much a work in progress.
They are so unique, I don't think I've seen them around here . But I know papaya flowers have male and female flowers.
Excellent post today. You are so right! Tree flowers are quite often overlooked! And they have a beauty all their own. ~karen
Interesting Rosie. It's a lot of fun to read about them.
This is wonderful. I've never seen a hazelnut tree. The catkins remind me of our Salix, willows .
I just love seeing all the blooming flowers on everyone's blogs - They're all so pretty & it's exciting!!!
Fantastic macro shots!
Those tiny flowers are lovely - macro photography really does allow you to see the world in a new and different way.
Isn't it wonderful when you discover something new about a plant you though your knew well? I love the tiny female flowers.
wonderful to learn more about this. The little hot pink flowers are sweetly wild looking. How fun to see all your photos.
Funnily enough, I was looking at my (ordinary) hazel today and noticing a few catkins, but I didn't see any female flowers. I shall go back tomorrow and look closer!
You got some great pictures!
excellent photo series, and thanks for the great info too! I really love all the shots!
Hi again Rosie, great pics and info on the catkins. I don't have any in my garden but always enjoy seeing them :-)
Rosie, I must admit that I knew nothing about this! What an interesting post. Any your photos can't be beat!! Very pretty.
Really nice photos, Rosie. Those catkins remind me of unripened mulberry fruits! Do these hazelnuts produce actual edible nuts?
I like your interesting and informative post, especially about male and female flowers. Nature is fascinating.
Male and Female made He them. Who knew? A wonderful post, Rosie, and your photography is spectacular!
Hello, Rosie. I had to go lookup Scottish Midges because I didn't know what they were.
Now I know, and apparently the tourism bureau isn't fond of mentioning them.
donna
My Corylus is still dormant but should awaken any day now! Nice photo!
Not related to this post but I just watched your little video hidden in your about me section! I love it!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today and leaving a comment and I really appreciate you taking the time to do so. I'll either reply to you on my blog or else make a return visit to your blog over the next few days.