aments

Aments are a type of inflorescence characterized by slender, sometimes pendulous spikes of small flowers that are usually unisexual and lack showy petals or sepals. In many plants, aments are wind-pollinated and resemble catkins, a form common in several families. The flowers on male aments typically have greatly reduced perianth parts and produce pollen, while female aments contain ovules and, after pollination, develop into fruits or seeds.

Aments occur on a range of trees and shrubs, notably in the Betulaceae (such as hazel and alder) and Salicaceae (such as willows and poplars). They can be monoecious, with male and female inflorescences on the same plant, or dioecious, with male and female plants separate. In many species, the male aments appear first in late winter or early spring, often before leaves emerge, followed by female aments that mature later. This timing enhances wind dispersal of pollen and reduces interference from leafy canopies.

In botanical terminology, ament is sometimes treated as a synonym of catkin. The term emphasizes the structural form of the inflorescence rather than a single taxonomic group, reflecting a common strategy in several plant lineages for producing numerous small flowers in a compact, easily dispersed arrangement.