Melampyrum pratense
| Melampyrum pratense | |
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| Species: | M. pratense
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| Melampyrum pratense | |
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Melampyrum pratense or Common Cow-wheat is a plant species of the genus Melampyrum. This plant has an interesting relationship with ants. It produces a sugary liquid from small glands under its petals, which wood ants feed on. The seeds of this plant have evolved to mimic the cocoons of wood ants, which are crucial in their dispersal, transporting the seeds into their nests.[1]
References
- ^ Dan Puplett. "Trees for Life - Ecological features of the Caledonian Forest - Symbiosis". Retrieved 2007-09-09.
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