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Bloodroot is an ephemeral Spring plant in eastern North America - it blooms briefly, leafs briefly, and is dormant for most of the year. It grows perennially in slowly expanding colonies connected by a reddish rhizome that oozes orange sap traditionally used medicinally and as a dye. Bloodroot is also spread by ants who bring its seeds into their nests where they feed the attached fleshy, oily bits (called elaiosomes) to their larvae and leave the seeds to sprout in the fertile debris of their abode. We didn’t have a very harsh winter, but across the world we are now moving indoors or at least away from other people, stockpiling foods and toilet paper. Let’s imagine we were ants: after all the anxious consumption of the coming weeks and months, what will be the seeds that we leave behind that will feed us in the future? What are we sowing as we hibernate in these nests? I was just swallowing a chopped up clove of garlic meditating on my gratitude to this plant for its healing properties, and gratitude that we had the foresight, knowledge, health, and land on which to plant garlic patches in our backyard and at our farms, and gratitude that the plants are now sprouting and building future medicine from eating sunlight and soil. Some figurative seeds I’m planting now are: revising my farm plans to include even larger medicine crops than usual, like calendula, skullcap, elecampane, mullein; planning to harvest extra wild nettles this year (without taking more than our share); taking and rooting cuttings of the elder trees in my life (some of which come from cuttings I did a decade ago in a park in Brooklyn) and teaching others to do the same; and putting up even more of our crops - canning San Marzano tomatoes, dehydrating more peppers, okra, mushrooms, freezing more molokhia, kale, collards, callaloo. I’m excited to help others to learn these things too, and to provide literal seeds for so many of these things. Again: after all the anxious consumption of the coming weeks and months, what will be the seeds that we leave behind that will feed us in the future? What are we sowing as we hibernate in these nests? #symbiotic #myrmecochory #seeddispersal #bloodroot https://www.instagram.com/p/B9spVqVgqXQ/?igshid=xjcjrgryec04

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a spring ephemeral, meaning it shows up early before the forest canopy fills in, lures the bees to a couple days of pollen (but no nectar!), photosynthesizes a year's worth of energy, and disappears by summer. The seeds are coated with oily flesh that is delicious to ants who carry them into their nests, helping this plant to quickly form colonies in a forest. Basically, this plant really knows how to delegate its reproduction to the insect world, gets it done early, and spends the rest of the year sleeping underground. (Info from Dave's Garden - read more there). #davesgarden #myrmecochory #sanguinariacanadensis #bloodroot #springephemeral #poisonousplants #medicineplants #dyeplants (at Newtown Square, Pennsylvania)

Here’s a quick rundown of how ants help your plants and garden thrive: Number one, ants transfer pollen while they forage for nectar, making them vital pollinators in places where bees are scarce. Number two, they protect flowers by keeping less effective visitors away, which means better pollination results. Number three, their tunneling aerates soil and mixes nutrients, improving root growth and soil fertility naturally. Number four, ants disperse seeds to nutrient-rich spots, promoting seed germination and plant diversity through myrmecochory. Number five, even though their secretions can reduce pollen viability in some cases, certain plants have adapted pollen that resists this, making ants better pollinators in specific environments. Number six, ants hunt or scare off herbivorous pests, reducing plant damage and boosting growth potential. Number seven, all these roles combined help maintain ecosystem stability and support a diverse, healthy plant community. So, if your garden has ants, it’s not just a nuisance—they’re actually helping your plants grow stronger and healthier in ways you might not even notice.

If you wanna get how ants impact seed dispersal and plant diversity, here’s the lowdown. Number 1, ants move seeds short distances, usually between 0.5 to 1.5 meters, which helps reduce competition among seedlings and improves survival chances. Number 2, they protect seeds from predators by hiding them underground or in secret spots, lowering the risk of seed loss. Number 3, ants drop seeds in nutrient-rich midden piles, creating perfect germination sites packed with organic matter and moisture. Number 4, plants produce seeds with elaiosomes, those tasty appendages ants love, so ants carry seeds to safe locations like nests, ensuring directed dispersal. Number 5, this seed movement promotes plant diversity and colonization by establishing new plant communities that support a wide range of wildlife. Number 6, ants tend to disperse larger seeds farther than smaller ones, affecting seed distribution patterns and plant competition in local ecosystems. And Number 7, in fragmented habitats, ants play a vital role by connecting isolated patches through seed dispersal corridors, boosting genetic diversity and ecosystem resilience. All these actions by ants contribute to healthier ecosystems, better plant growth, and support sustainable gardening and habitat restoration efforts.

If you wanna get how ants impact seed dispersal and plant diversity, here’s the lowdown. Number 1, ants move seeds short distances, usually between 0.5 to 1.5 meters, which helps reduce competition among seedlings and improves survival chances. Number 2, they protect seeds from predators by hiding them underground or in secret spots, lowering the risk of seed loss. Number 3, ants drop seeds in nutrient-rich midden piles, creating perfect germination sites packed with organic matter and moisture. Number 4, plants produce seeds with elaiosomes, those tasty appendages ants love, so ants carry seeds to safe locations like nests, ensuring directed dispersal. Number 5, this seed movement promotes plant diversity and colonization by establishing new plant communities that support a wide range of wildlife. Number 6, ants tend to disperse larger seeds farther than smaller ones, affecting seed distribution patterns and plant competition in local ecosystems. And Number 7, in fragmented habitats, ants play a vital role by connecting isolated patches through seed dispersal corridors, boosting genetic diversity and ecosystem resilience. All these actions by ants contribute to healthier ecosystems, better plant growth, and support sustainable gardening and habitat restoration efforts.

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