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, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds.
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, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds.
Urbana, Illinois, USA
Canon EOS 50D |
Original size: 4752x3168 |
Current: 800x534 |
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013