A inflorescence or catkin could be a slim, cylindrical inflorescence, with unnoticeable or no petals, sometimes wind-pollinated however generally insect-pollinated. They contain several, sometimes sexual flowers, organized closely on a central stem that is commonly drooping.
The word inflorescence could be a loan from the recent Dutch katteken, that means "kitten", on account of the similitude to a kitten's tail. catkin is from the Latin amentum, that means "thong" or "strap.
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