Category: Seed of the Week (Page 63 of 167)

Seed of the Week: Little Leaf Cordia

Our mystery seeds from last week are from a plant that is relatively new to landscape use in Arizona and gaining popularity, the little leaf cordia, Cordia parvifolia. Cordia’s are sometimes called “Geiger trees” in homage to Captain Geiger who first grew one in Florida (story here).

little-leaf-cordia-flower-cluster

Little leaf cordia has lovely clusters of crisp, white flowers.

lifftle-leaf-seed-formation

The seeds form in these fuzzy pods. The seeds apparently do not germinate readily, and the plants are often grown from cuttings.

little-leaf-cordia-leaves

In case you were wondering, the little leaf cordia does have relatively small, gray-green leaves.

little-leaf-cordia-branch

It is a medium-sized shrub that tolerates dry conditions and heat very well.

little-leaf-cordia-flower

Do any cordias or Geiger trees grow where you live? What do their seeds look like?

Mystery Seed of the Week 162

Today’s mystery seeds come from a landscape plant that is rising in popularity here in Arizona.

mystery-seeds-161-pods

The seeds are held in fuzzy pods right on the plant.

mystery-seeds-161-inside

If you open them, you find these funny seeds.

mystery-seed-161-newDon’t they look like tops? Or maybe beet roots?

Please leave a comment if you recognize the mystery seeds.

Edit:  The answer is now posted.

Seed of the Week: Live Oak Acorn

Our mysterious mystery seed from last week was indeed an acorn, as many of you guessed. It was probably from a live oak, possibly from the coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, although that isn’t sure.

acorn-oak

Clues that it might be an acorn included the discolored area on the left side. It seemed like it might have had a cap originally, like acorns have.

There aren’t too many species of oaks with long, narrow acorns, mainly the live oaks.

Are coast live oaks even found in Arizona? Well, there is one at The University of Arizona Arboretum in Tucson. I have to admit the acorns look a bit darker red in the photographs on that site. I did read that the acorns can be variable.

What do you think about the photograph at this art site. Look similar?

What do you think?

 

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