Trout
lily (Erythronium americanum) is an early blooming perennial, a woodland
wildflower that is on display now. It gets its odd
name because the leaves are mottled and to some look like the sides of a
brook trout.
But the cool thing is trout
lilies grow in colonies and are examples of myrmecochory meaning that
their seeds are dispersed and planted by ants, yes ants, like many of
the other spring ephemerals. Needless to say, the ants do not
move the seeds too far.
But
why?
The ants are only interested in the elaiosomes, the edible parts that are
rich in lipids, amino acid and other nutrients. Then they toss the true
seed aside underground. Win-win.
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