Description

Oligocene

John Day Formation

Fossil, Oregon, USA

41mm catkin on 112mm slab

Flower, Angiosperm.

Alnus is the genus for various alder trees which belongs to the birch family, Betulaceae.  Alders date back at least to the Early Eocene.

Catkin is a term referring to a slender, cylindrical flower cluster seen in many plant families.