De geslachtsverdeling bij Myrica gale L

So far, little attention has been given to the sexual differentiation in the flowers of Myrica gale L. in the Netherlands. A recent survey revealed the existence of monoecious, dioecious, as well as polygamous plants. In monoecious plants the male and female catkins occur either on the same branches (usually with the female flowers at the base of the branch, rarely at the top), or on different ones; in polygamous plants the middle catkins have hermaphrodite flowers. Dioecious plants may change their sex in subsequent years. The information given on this matter in the Flora’s of the Netherlands as well as the United Kingdom is shortly reviewed.