The hazelnut is born from an astonishing interplay between male and female flowers

Hazelnuts are often linked to childhood innocence in tales, as seen in Perrault's "Little Red Riding Hood." The common hazel tree has distinct male and female flowers, unlike most plants. Male flowers, or catkins, hang from the tree and release yellow pollen between December and March, relying on wind for pollination. Other trees in the birch family also feature catkins, similar to their distant relatives in the willow family.