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Mystery Seed of the Week 232

There is not much to help you identify these mystery seeds.

mystery-seeds-232Showing you the seed head would make it way too easy. You can see them readily in wet, marshy areas poking up through the snow in the winter.

Do you recognize what plant these seeds are from? If you choose to, please leave a comment with your ideas.

Mystery seed answers and new Mystery seeds are posted on Tuesdays.

Edit:  The answer is now posted.

Seed of the Week: White Campion

Our bumpy mystery seeds from last week were from the white campion, Silene latifolia.

white-campion- calyxThe white campion was introduced from Europe and now is a common wildflower, particularly in the Northeast. It generally grows as an annual.

white-campion-calyxIt is easily recognized by the swollen calyx of the female flower, which has a pink-purplish tinge.

silene-flower-campionThe flower petals are bright white.

mystery-seed-231-pods-clearThe seed capsule forms from the calyx.

Silene_latifolia-seeds-1(Public domain photograph of mature seeds from Wikimedia.) Inside the seeds are covered with small bulges.

silen-white-campion-plantsThe leaves form opposite pairs along the stems.

White campion is a common flower that is easy to overlook. Does it grow where you live?

 

Bug of the Week: Lone Harvester Ant

Even though it is December, we still have plenty of insects out and about.

ant-1111Take this lone harvester ant guarding its nest entrance. Looks like it may have encountered a problem, as it is missing the middle leg on this side.

harvester-ant-middens-123It is always interesting to check the middens (garbage dump) near the harvest ant nests. I wonder if the round seed with ridges is a canyon hackberry

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