Vagaria parviflora - seeds

the Vagaria parviflora seeds (like several other geophyte seeds) are covered with Elaiosome - fleshy structure that is attached to the seeds, rich in lipids and proteins. The elaiosomes attracts ants, which take the seed to their nest and feed the elaiosome to their larvae. Then the ants take the seed to their waste disposal area, which is rich in nutrients from the ant frass and dead bodies, and the seeds can germinate there.

comments (3)

Christine Young

Lion

Interesting! I think that is similar to what happens here with Asarum canadense (wild ginger). Posted 2 years ago
1. Yael Orgad
  
  Lion
  
  nice :-)
  I think this Elaiosome is not uncommon, and I like finding all kind of mechanisms plants use to make animals help them breed and spread around ;-) Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    It's really neat. I would love to find some ants in the act of harvesting the seeds. Posted 2 years ago