Growing With Science Blog

Category: Seed of the Week (Page 105 of 167)

Mystery Seed of the Week 99

January 17, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Our mystery seeds this week are actually the cones that hold the seeds.

These are from the Northeast, rather than from the Southwest. The tree has some unique characteristics, as you might guess from these photographs. Do you know what kind of tree these are found on?

Note:  We are quickly approaching our 100th Seed of the Week. To celebrate, I’d like to feature your favorite seed. Please send me the name of your favorite plant or seed and your first name to growingwithscience (at) gmail. com by January 19, 2012 and I’ll create a list. If it is an unusual plant, please let me know a little about it, too.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Edit:  The answer is now posted.

Seed of the Week: Alligator Juniper

January 17, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Our mystery “seeds” showcased last week were from an alligator juniper, Juniperus deppeana.

Technically these are not the seeds, but berry-like cones that contain the seeds. Notice the white, waxy coating which is a common characteristic.

Alligator junipers are named for their distinctive bark.

Once you’ve seen the bark that forms rectangular blocks, it is pretty easy to identify again. People say it looks like alligator skin.

Here’s another example. There are different subspecies throughout the range that have variations in growing shape and cone size.

It has the typical scale-like leaves of a juniper (Photograph from Wikimedia).

Alligator junipers are generally small, but in this photograph by Tom Check (from Wikimedia) you can see that older alligator junipers can be magnificent trees.

Have you ever seen an alligator juniper? Where did you see it?

Mystery Seed of the Week 98

January 10, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Our mystery “seeds” come from a tree that is only found in the southwestern U.S.

As a hint, it’s common name relates to an animal. People think the bark resembles this particular animal’s skin.

Do you have any ideas what the tree might be?

Edit:  The answer is now posted. By the way, these are not really the seeds, but berry-like cones.

Note:  We are quickly approaching our 100th Seed of the Week. To celebrate, I’d like to feature your favorite seed. Please send me the name of your favorite plant or seed and your first name to growingwithscience (at) gmail. com by January 19, 2012 and I’ll create a list. If it is an unusual plant, please let me know a little about it, too.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024 Growing With Science Blog

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑