 When you think of flowers, you probably picture bright, beautiful blossoms. However, flowers can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. In fact, these little structures on the cottonwood are called catkins, and they're its flowers. The name catkin comes from the old Dutch word catechin, which means kitten. It seems like an appropriate name since they resemble kitten tails. Another term used to describe catkins is ament, which comes from the Latin word amentum, meaning thong or strap. The catkins are unisexual, meaning there are separate male and female flowers. In many plants, only the male flowers are catkins. One example is an alder, where the males are catkins and the females are small cones. The willow family, which includes aspens and cottonwoods, have both male and female catkins. Catkins often appear before the tree or shrub has leafed out. Most are wind pollinated, which is why they dangle, so they can catch the slightest breeze and pollen is moved between plants. Because they don't need to attract insects, they aren't always fragrant or showy. The willow family is an exception in that they are insect-pollinated. It's probably not worth it to stop and smell the catkins, but take the time and enjoy the dancing kitten tails. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Mae Smith, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.