Posts Tagged ‘pictures of aspen catkins’

2014 Aspen Catkins

Tuesday, April 15th, 2014

It is not since 2010 that breeding Aspen has been seen locally – SEE HERE.  On April 14, 2014 a single Aspen was seen near Ardgay with a good display of male catkins.

2014 Aspen Male Flowers, ArdgayClick image to view

There are many Aspen stems in the area but none other than this one show any sign of catkin flowers.  It may be time to start noting whether any other Aspen will flower this year.

April 19; about 200m away from the Aspen stem above another showed signs of catkins (photo below).  These are female flowers and are so far restricted to only a few upper branches.

19 April 2014, Aspen with female catkinsClick image to view

19 April 2014, Aspen with female catkins19 April 2014, Aspen with female catkins, Ardgay

Russell has seen female Aspen flowers in Edderton, see below:

2014 Female Aspen Flowers at Edderton DSCF0095cClick image to view

2014 Female Aspen Flowers at Edderton, by Russell

Contact us if you see any flowering Aspen; take photos and note the date and location/grid reference.

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Posted in Botanical, Ornithological, Who Has Seen What | 1 Comment »

Aspen Catkins – male or female?

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

0391aspen-catkinsClick image to view

Remember 9th of March when John Parrott spoke about aspen?

0384aspen-catkinsClick image to view

On 16th May Marion & Phil spotted a single aspen tree with catkins in a collection of over 60 ramets (stems) mixed with birch, scots pine and alder.  This ratio may be in line with the rarity of Aspen setting seed.

0374aspen-catkin-branchesClick image to view

The only branches showing catkins were quite high up and digiscoping was resorted to in order to get images.

North Highland Forest Trust had information, from which I have purloined these images. (Note from 2018; the NHFT has no website.)

007RipeningFemaleCatkin

Female Catkin

005MaleCatkin

Male Catkin

I will try to watch the catkins develop to ascertain which sex they are. (Note from 2018; internet searches show the very clear differences between male and female aspen catkins. Male look quite red. Female are green going whitish.)

To confirm which catkin is which sex NHFT advice is to break off a small branch/twig, place it in water so it survives, and watch the catkins develop.

The location of this aspen tree is NH 59692 89843, +/- 7metres, so says the GPS.

That is above Ardgay, Sutherland on Landranger sheet 21.

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Posted in Botanical, Who Has Seen What | 4 Comments »