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Places to Visit
and Explore Nature
in Stanley Park

Ecosystem Guides:
Garden Ceperley Meadow S


Stanley Park
Visitor Map:

with Park Features,
Trails, and Destinations
Ceperley Meadow S

 
Black Willow
 
Black Willow
Black willows are native to eastern North America and are an introduced species
found in Stanley Park's gardens. Like its native cousins, this willow provides some
of the season's first flowers.

The willow catkin in the photograph is composed of a dense cluster of male flowers.
The male part of the flower or stamen is made-up of two parts -
a thin stem or filament and a pollen sac or anther.

As each flower matures, the purple coloured pollen filled sacs of the anther
split and release their contents of bright yellow pollen grains.

If you look closely at this photo you'll notice a small dark insect in the center
of the catkin. This midge species is just one of several fly species which depend
on early Spring flowers for food in the form of nectar and pollen. In turn,
these early-flying insects provide food to Stanley Park's winter resident birds
and new Spring arrivals; flocks of migrating songbirds - kinglets, warblers, and others.


 
 
 
Field Guide Entry:
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Stanley Park Explorer
http://www.stanleyparkexplorer.ca

Produced by Peter Woods
naturalist@stanleyparkexplorer.ca  
 
 
 
 
Revised: May 20, 2011