Exotic Ways Plants Assure the Survival of Their Offspring

Have you ever wanted to toss that basement-living over-aged kid out and let him fend for himself? The impatiens, a popular flower in the Balsam family, does just that. At the end of a season, this common garden plant, also known as busy lizzy or touch me not forms coiled seed pods that explode at the slightest touch, throwing its offspring to the four winds.

Some plants send their offspring traveling on helicopters, or at least that was the nickname that we gave as kids to the spiraling maples seeds that used their unique shapes to carry them far from mama maple. Dust-like seeds such as those in the Gesneriad Family which includes African violet, gloxinia, streptocarpus, episcia and many others also put the wind to good use.

Still other trees, such as Long Island's pitch pine, must survive trial by fire. Like the legendary phoenix, the pine barrens of Long Island are renewed by fire. That is because the intense heat of fire is necessary to sprout pine pine seedlings. This is mother nature's way of keeping down populations in areas where resources are limited.

Many species of pines follow this strategy, and it is one downside to fire-control methods used in managed forests. Without the occasional fire, the forests accumulate dead brush and cannot be renewed with new trees. The aging trees become susceptible to insect infestation and the flammable brush increases danger to nearby homeowners. In fact, the American Indians routinely set small fires to improve the quality of their hunting grounds.

Still other plants take their cues from the temperature. Many plants grow in areas that are characterized by a cold winter followed by a growing season. To avoid having plants sprout up at the wrong time and then quickly die, many species required sustained bouts of cold to prime their seeds for growth. Roses are an example. Without two months of chilling, below freezing temperatures, rose seedlings will not sprout. So if you expect to grow miniature fairy roses (rosa polyantha) from seed for houseplants, clear some room in your refrigerator.

Some plants are geared toward long sea voyages. A variety of tropical plants can survive immersion in sea water for weeks on end and in fact it is part of their survival strategy. Powerful ocean currents spread coconuts and other tropical fruits for miles around. Hence the lonely coconut tree in those deserted island gags. If you want to grow these plants at home, expect to take out steel files and a glass of warm water. Unless you physically abrade the seed coat and drop it into water for 24 hours or more, nothing will happen.

Still other seeds have to pass through the digestive tracks of animals to germinate. Plants use berry eating birds such as Bohemian Waxwings to carry their seeds far. The stone fruits surround their pits with a hard outer armor so that animals that eat peaches, apricots, cherries and other members of this family carry them away before they sprout. And its a good thing for the animals that the pits are so carefully guarded because they contain cyanide in sufficient quantity that a few pits can kill a man.

Although the plants may seem heartless, all of this is done with love. Spreading the offspring out reduces competition and improves survival of both mother and child.