Seed Disperser

We’ve been really enjoying David Attenborough’s Green Planet, simply great television.

In one episode he snapped a bullrush (reedmace) seed-head in half, and all the seeds blew away. So passing seed heads by the little lake at Arley Green I took one and snapped it in half. The seeds didn’t blow away, probably not quite ripe, but it is fascinating seeing them within the outer casing, forming layer upon layer of seed rings with the seed heads on the outside and the parachute heads folded up towards the centre.