Alder catkins

[IntrepidStu]

Today I saw some small catkins hanging from some alser trees near where I live. I want to know if these are left over from earlier in the year, or is THIS the time that they start to grow.

Also, is the yellow pollen (at least I think its pollen) that they contain edible, because it certainly IS tasty.

Thanks in advance.
Stu.

 

[IntrepidStu]

bump........

 

[andy_e]

Hi IntrepidStu,

you probably already looked but a quick google brought up these links ...

http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/doh/pollen_site/TreeAlder.html
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/food/saldercatkins/index.html

 

[Galemys]

And there's also this thread by the late Storm:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7325&highlight=catkin

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Mistwalker]

Well, I can't say about alder...,or about trees in the U.K. as I've never been there, but when my oldest daughter and I were out on a hike at the end of summer we found these Black Birch catkins. I'd think they may have been from earlier in the year as these were found a couple of months ago. Were there any leaves at all left on the Alder trees?

 

[IntrepidStu]

Well, I can't say about alder...,or about trees in the U.K. as I've never been there, but when my oldest daughter and I were out on a hike at the end of summer we found these Black Birch catkins. I'd think they may have been from earlier in the year as these were found a couple of months ago. Were there any leaves at all left on the Alder trees?

Nope, no leaves.

 

[Mistwalker]

Hmmmmm....maybe I should go check out those Birch trees to see what they look like now.

 

[robin wood]

Petty sure these are seeds, that is what grows from the female flower later in the year rather than catkins, the male flower that produces pollen early in the spring. I would expect catkins forming on alder, hazel and birch by this time of year, but I'll have a check today locally.

 

[IntrepidStu]

Petty sure these are seeds, that is what grows from the female flower later in the year rather than catkins, the male flower that produces pollen early in the spring. I would expect catkins forming on alder, hazel and birch by this time of year, but I'll have a check today locally.

If you could do that for me Robin I would be very greatfull. Any more info you have on the catkins at THIS time of year would be great mate.

Stu

 

[Mistwalker]

I'm just going by the information given to me by some who know A LOT more about plants than I do http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45065

 

[Long Stride]

Some pictures I took last Sunday.
I am afraid Jack Frost got there first

Catkins

Cones

Cones and Catkins

Stu, I am sure the Catkins have been there since Late Summer Early Autumn

Long Stride