Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seed pod. The seeds are dispersed by ants.
The seed pods of bloodroot are dehiscent. This pod has split open to reveal seeds, each of which has a fleshy elaiosome, a fatty structure that attracts ants and serves as a handle with which they carry the seeds back to their nests. Bloodroot seeds are better able to germinate within an ant nest than in the open. This symbiotic means of seed dispersal has evolved in several different plant species.
Size: 3347px × 5020px
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Photo credit: © Custom Life Science Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: angiosperm, angiosperms, ant, bloodroot, bloodwort, canadensis, dehisce, dehiscence, dehiscent, dicot, dicots, dispersal, elaiosome, elaiosomes, eudicot, eudicots, evolution, forb, forbs, herb, herbs, islc, myrmecochory, papaveraceae, pauson, perennial, perennials, plant, plants, pods, puccoon, red, root, sanguinaria, seed, seedpod, seedpods, seeds, symbiosis, symbiotic
