It is an area of grassland managed for wildflowers and lies in the village of Kennington a mile or two south of South Hinksey. The meadow is bounded by woodland on two sides, with Bagley Wood to the west, and sloping quite steeply down to Radley Large Wood to the south, with a stream marking the boundary. There's not much colour there at this time of year but the hazel catkins on trees beside the stream stood out in the weak sunshine this afternoon.
Catkin, common hazel, Corylus avellana.
The hazel catkin is male; it moves freely in the breeze, releasing pollen which lands on the female flower. Individual trees carry both male and female flowers (monoecious).
A closer look at the catkin
A closer look at the catkin
Closer still
Sorry it's not that sharp but catkins are very good at moving in the slightest air current! You can just make out the short hair-like tufts which are the stamens. Each divides (you can't see that here), into two anthers which burst open to release their pollen.
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