Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants.
Here, an Aphaenogaster fulva disperses a bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seed.
Urbana, Illinois, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants.
Here, an Aphaenogaster fulva disperses a bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seed.
Urbana, Illinois, USA
Canon EOS 50D |
Original size: 4752x3168 |
Current: 800x534 |
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013