A catkin is a tight cylindrical flower cluster where flowers connect directly to a stem. The flowers generally don't have petals and the stem is often drooping.

Bracts are modified leaves associated with a flower.

glaucous -- Pale gray or bluish-green. It can mean covered with a greyish, bluish or whitish coating.

gall -- An abnormal bulbous formation on plant leaves or stems.

petiole -- the stalk of a leaf.

dioecious -- When male and female reproductive structures are on separate plants.

staminate flowers -- Having only male, pollen producing floral parts.

reticulate -- forming a network such as veins that join one another at more than one point.

pistillate -- a flower that lacks stamens is pistillate, or female. One that lacks pistils is said to be staminate, or male.

glabrous -- smooth, glossy, having no bristles or hair-like structures. Bald.

The anther is a pad at the end of the stamen that holds the pollen.

obovate -- Teardrop-shaped, stem attaches to tapering point.

An entire leaf has smooth edges. Not toothed or lobed.

caespitose -- Grass (or plants) growing in small dense clumps or tufts.

orbicular -- Circular or nearly circular in outline.

tundra -- Land above tree line characterized by a short growing season, intense sun and wind, thin soils, very high snow fall and high rain fall. Contains low growing sedges, grasses, dwarf shrubs and herbs.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

alpine -- above the tree line. Thin soil, rocks, short growing season, frost, winter snow.

genus -- A subdivision of a botanical Family in which all members have a significant number of similar characteristics.

ovate -- Oval, egg-shaped, with a tapering point.

prostrate -- Laying flat on the ground.

blade -- Just the flat part of a leaf. Not the stem.