I just bought a house in Andalusia and the seeds in the pods of my mimosa trees look weird, black with a red circle around. Is it normal or is it some kind of parasite?
Hi cocandalucia, it’s perfectly normal ! That’s the seed of Acacia cyclops (as in, cyclops is the botanical name!). It has those weird strands connecting to the seed as a way to help the seeds spread. It’s very nutritious, so birds swallow the whole thing and then drop the seeds elsewhere in their guano. I think there’s also an appeal for ants, they lug the whole thing near and in their nest and then the seed is free to sprout.
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