Author: Roberta (Page 208 of 562)

As a run up to our 200th Mystery Seed, we are doing few new challenges as a contest.  The idea of the challenges will be to introduce some real world reasons why someone might need to identify seeds. Prizes will be awarded in Mystery Seed post 200.

Challenge 7.

Scenario:  You are a farmer. You ordered some oat seeds and they just arrived on a truck.

Here is a sample of the seeds. Did you get the correct shipment? If not, what kind of seeds are these?

Edit: This challenge is now closed. The answer will be posted in Seed of the Week 200.  For this week’s challenge, 10 points for the first correct identification, 3 points for each subsequent correct answer. 

Only 1 more challenge to go.

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Answer to challenge 5:

The seeds found were indeed from the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera. I based the scenario of an actual case where date palm seeds thought to be 2000 years old were found in the Masada. When a scientist planted them, the seeds were still viable and sprouted. See more details at National Geographic.

Challenge 5 is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.

The answers to challenge 6 will be revealed next week.

New mystery seeds and Seed of the Week answers are posted on Tuesdays.

As a run up to our 200th Mystery Seed, we are doing few new challenges as a contest.  The idea of the challenges will be to introduce some real world reasons why someone might need to identify seeds. Prizes will be awarded in post 200.

Challenge 6.

Scenario:  You work for the Department of Agriculture in Australia. It is your job to keep invasive weeds out of the country.

A shipment of seeds arrives with some round black seeds mixed in.

A. What kind of seeds are they?

B. Should the shipment be rejected or not? To help with your decision, see the lists of Australian invasive weeds at Weeds of National Significance. (Google is okay for this, as well.)

Edit:  For this week’s challenge, you only need the genus and/or common name of the plant because the species names are somewhat in flux. A. 5 points for the first correct identification, 1 point for each subsequent correct answer. B. 5 points for the first correct response indicating whether the plant is invasive in Australia, 1 point for each subsequent correct answer.

Challenge 6 is now closed. The answer is posted in challenge 8.

Only 2 more challenges to go.

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Answer to challenge 4:

The brown, rounded seeds were indeed radish seeds, Raphanus sativus, and the oval, spiky seeds were carrots, Daucus carota subsp. sativus.

By the way, this seed mixture works well when planted together as the radishes germinate and grow quickly, whereas the carrots are much slower. Pulling out the radishes allows the carrots plenty of room to develop roots.

Challenge 4 is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.

The answers to challenge 5 will be revealed next week.

New mystery seeds and Seed of the Week answers are posted on Tuesdays.