Category: Seed of the Week (Page 133 of 167)

Seed of the Week: Catnip

We found the seeds for mystery seed last week in an unusual place. I noticed that the dried catnip (Nepeta cataria) we had purchased looked like it contained some flower calyxes.

The calyx is a tube-shaped structure formed from the sepals around the bottom of the flower. Curious, I tore open some of the brown ones (I assumed those were more mature) and sure enough there were seeds inside.

The seeds were in a cluster. As you can see from this painting by Jacob Sturm from 1796, the seeds are known to have two white marks.

(Image was downloaded from Wikipedia)

Catnip plants belong to the mint family, and thus have the characteristic square-shaped stem. They are originally from Europe, but were carried to North America by colonists (probably with their cats 🙂 ). Now they readily grow wild from seed and can be considered to be a weed.

The plants get their name from the fact that many cats find the plants attractive, like this one that rolled in the dried catnip I had set out to photograph. Scientists have discovered a chemical in the plant, nepetalactone, is what attracts the cats. The same chemical is a proven insect repellent. Guess that cat won’t have fleas or mosquitoes now.

The next step is to find out whether the dried seeds are still viable.

Have you ever grown catnip? Does your cat like catnip?

Mystery Seed of the Week 56

These little sand-grain sized seeds are found with a calyx in a cluster.

When you pull the cluster apart, they have two little white marks that look like eyes.

Aren’t they cute?

These seeds will grow into a plant that is used more by other animals, rather than humans.

Any guesses what that plant might be?

Edit: The answer is now posted.

Seed of the Week: Sissoo Tree

I am sorry to say I might have mislead you with the hint about the mystery seed of the week last week.

It turns out that although the sissoo tree (Dalbergia sissoo) that produced the beautiful seed pods grows very well in the Desert Southwest, it is actually originally from India. It may also be called Indian Rosewood.

The tree has compound leaves. The leaflets are bigger than those of most of our desert trees.

Young trees have a pale bark, which turns darker and quite rough with age.

In India, the tree is grown both for its beautiful, termite-resistant wood and as well as for firewood. It is quite fast growing.

If you want to try to grow sissoo trees from seeds make sure the seeds are fresh, because they lose viability quickly. There is no need to extract the seeds from the pods. Soak them in water for at least 24 hours and then plant in moist soil.

New trees can also be produced from the roots of existing trees, a process called suckering.

Thanks to my three botany friends, Deb, Terry and Claud, for straightening me out on the identity of this species.

Have you seen a sissoo tree?

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