Wild Ginger - Asarum
canadense
This member of the Birthwort family features an unusual flower
at ground level between the two leaf stalks. Seeds in this species
are covered with elaiosomes, small nodules filled with oils and
sugars. Ants take the seeds to their burrows and eat the oils
and sugars but, being unable to pierce the seed itself, they
discard the seeds in the unused areas of their burrows which
are usually well aerated and damp - perfect conditions for germination.
The term for this method of seed distribution is Myrmechochory.
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