Tendrils

Ants That Are Farmers

 

Large-flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum
Large-flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum

 

Every now and then, when I am doing research on a plant, I will discover that the plant has an unusual quality. The plants with this unusual quality are said to be myrmecochorous. They use a method of seed dispersal that is facilitated by ants.

Seed pod of Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla
Seed pod of Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla

 

The seeds of myrmecochorous plants have fleshy appendages called elaiosomes which are packed with nutrients, and are tempting to ants. The picture above is of a seed pod of a Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla, filled with seeds with elaiosomes.

Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla
Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla

 

Ants out hunting for food will stumble upon these seeds, gather them, and return to their colony to feed the elaiosomes to hungry larvae.

Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica
Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica         

 

Once the elaiosomes are consumed, the ants have no further use for the seeds, and throw them into their colony’s “trash room.”

Wild Bleeding Heart, Dicentra Eximia
Wild Bleeding Heart, Dicentra Eximia

 

The environment in the “trash room” is a near perfect setting to start seeds – underground, and full of nourishment essential for plant growth.

Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia
Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia                                                                                                                                                                      

 

A new crop of plants, thanks to ant farmers.

The plants included in this blog are but a few of the myrmecochorous plants of my area, the mountains of central Virginia, and world wide there are more than 3,000 species.

 

Brenda Clements Jones

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6 responses to “Ants That Are Farmers”

  1. Would love to see these natives b looming in your area. We have a large patch of native trillium blooming down near the stream, and they are beginning to migrate up the hill–wish we’d had time to show you our natural area–mostly it’s wild honeysuckle that’s driving me crazy as it creeps up the hill!

    Hope you had a good visit with your mother. Many thanks for your note–that’s how I found your blog.,

    • Betty! So glad you found me! Our mountain is filled with many lovely natives, but the best are in Shenandoah National Park, which is very close. I’ll bet your trillium are beautiful. Your stream side location is just beautiful! My trillium are just now beginning to come up out of the earth, being very shy.

      Our visit with Mom was great. We were able to help her with many things AND it was wonderful to see her. My best to you and Tom!

  2. The world of flowers and plants is so fascinating. I have many ants about my garden and fields of wild violets. They have been busy! Let’s hope they start farming the Trilliums and Blood Root with the same enthusiasm as the violets!

    • Ants are busy little critters! Yep, they DO need to farm those Trillium and Blood Root seeds with gusto! I guess the seeds can play a part in the action as well. Grow little seeds! Grow!

      Nice to hear from you Kathy!

  3. The balance of nature and critters is amazing! Thanks for sharing more of your knowledge and beautiful photos, Brenda! 🙂