Wild Ginger ~ Asarum canadense
The Wild Ginger was in full bloom in early April this year. The three red sepals form a triangular shaped flower with a white interior. The flowers are hidden below the leaves and often rest on the ground.
"The flower evolved to attract small pollinating flies that emerge from the ground early in the spring looking for a thawing carcass of an animal that did not survive the winter. By lying next to the ground flower is readily found by the emerging flies. The color of the flower is similar to that of decomposing flesh. Whether these flies pollinate the flower or not is in some dispute. Never the less they do enter the flower to escape the cold winds of early spring and to feast upon the flowers pollen. Some of the pollen attaches to their bodies and is taken with them when they visit the next flower." (
US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers)
The method of seed dispersal is known however. Along with other spring ephemerals such as Bloodroot, the seeds have a fleshy appendage attached to them called an elaiosome. The purpose of the protein rich elaiosome is to attract ants.
Ants love to consume the elaiosome, and discard the seed. They often take the seed back to their nests where the seed is discarded in their nest, ready to germinate the following season.
I thought I'd see how much ants liked the elaiosome. I collected a few seeds and placed them on the ground near an ant. The ant was immediately drawn to the seed and elaiosome.
It consumed the whole elaiosome from one seed, then carried the other one off probably to its nest.
What a great method of seed dispersal, get the seed as far away as possible from the parent plant, and, away from predators such as rodents.
I need to check on my Wild Ginger to see if they've gone to seed yet. The Woodland Poppies did and the ants all loved those.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately here your ant seems to be Camponotus pennsylvanicus, a wood nesting species. Unless they're nesting in a decaying log with access to the ground they probably won't grow successfully. There are ground nesting Camponotus species and lots of other ant genera that will happily plant the seeds correctly I'm sure.
Thanks for the ant ID Mr.LTA. I guess this ant got a nice meal! I will try again with other ant species in the yard.
ReplyDeleteI always knew ants had a relationship with the flower in some way but I thought perhaps they helped with pollination. Very interesting to see what they are really after, the elaiosome. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Patty, I'm glad you enjoyed this post.
DeleteIt is amazing how quickly the ants find the seed once ripe. I went back to collect it and it was all gone in a few days.
ReplyDeleteI agree Carolyn, I try to mark on my calendar when to collect but was quite late for Bloodroot this year partly due to the early spring.
DeleteI love how the ants disperse so many wildflower seeds...fascinating to see this...
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing! I thought my husband was transplanting Ginger everywhere but it turns out it was the ants.
DeleteThis is so interesting! I will have to look at my ginger more closely and see if there are any seeds left. I did notice the flowers earlier this spring.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you caught the seeds in time Kathy. I was too late for bloodroot this year.
DeleteThese photographs are amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gardengirl
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