A cylindrical spikelike inflorescence; SYN. ament.
In flowering plants (angiosperms), a pendulous inflorescence, bearing numerous small, usually unisexual flowers. The tiny flowers are stalkless and the petals and sepals are usually absent or much reduced in size. Many types of trees bear catkins, including willows, poplars, and birches. Most plants with catkins are wind-pollinated, so the male catkins produce large quantities of pollen. Some gymnosperms also have catkinlike structures that produce pollen, for example, the swamp cypress Taxodium.