Our mystery seeds are about twice the size of a tomato seed.
They are from a plant that grows wild in Arizona.
Any guesses?
Edit: The answer is now up.
Tag: Seed of the Week (Page 130 of 142)
The mystery seeds from last week were apple seeds, Malus domestica.
How many times do we eat an apple without even glancing at the seeds?
Yet there is the potential to grow a new tree nestled inside (see below).
Well, if you don’t cut them in half with a knife, like I did 🙂
Wild apples are thought to have originated in Asia. Over the years, different varieties have been selected for commercial production. Most of the apple trees grown commercially are started from cuttings grafted on root stock.
That way the apples produced on the plant are the same as the parent stock.
Because of their unusual genetics, it can be difficult to grow apples from seeds obtained from commercial varieties. Any seedlings that do grow will produce apples that a very different from their parents.
If you would like to try growing apples from seeds, there’s more information on the Growing With Science website.
You might also be interested in finding out whether apples float.
Apples are such wonderful symbols of fall. Do apples grow where you live?
Ever read an ingredient on your shampoo called jojoba (pronounced ho-ho-ba)? The mystery seeds from last week were from the jojoba plant (Simmondsia chinensis).
The fruit are acorn-shaped and contain a hard seed inside. The seeds can be pressed to yield a useful oil. It is used in hair care products and cosmetics, and could be a potential source of biodiesel.
The plant grows as a bush that gets up to seven feet tall and is a light grayish- to bluish-green. Jojoba is native to Arizona and was used by American Indians as a food and medicine (the seeds were roasted.)
The leaves are held upright like parasols.
The male and female flowers are on separate plants.
The seeds were once used as a coffee substitute, thus the common names of coffee-bush and coffee berry. It is also called goatnut and deernut because it is a source of food for wild animals.
What an interesting plant!
Note: Mystery seed is going on vacation today, but it will be back next Tuesday.
For more information, see Roberta Gibson Writes.