Every plant has a sole purpose in its life: it must propagate or become extinct. This interesting horticultural term highlights one of the more extraordinary means of seed dispersal.
Elaiosome, e-lay-o-zome, n. (Greek: elaio = oil + soma = body) meaning ‘oil body'. Some plant seeds have an attached structure that is filled with lipids and proteins. This oily knob attracts ants that carry the seeds back to their colony to feed the babies and adults. When the structure has been cleared the remaining seed is thrown in their garbage heap. This results in the seeds germinating in a rich compost pile away from the parent plant. It is an ingenious seed dispersal mechanism that is symbiotic with maintaining ant colonies and their health.
Research on the phenomenon counts between 11,000 and 23,000 species develop seeds with elaiosomes. This is less than 5% of plant varieties but still extraordinary numbers. Common examples include violets, bleeding hearts, myrtle, castor beans (for making castor oil – ick), hyacinths and trilliums.
