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19 Jan 2010 • 650 views
 
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photoblog image Cattail Seeds

Cattail Seeds

Seeds of the common cattail (typha latifoilia) on my pond. Seed production prolific; each spike may contain 117,000 to 268,000 tiny seeds.

We notice just about everything on An Island Walk.

Cattail Seeds

Seeds of the common cattail (typha latifoilia) on my pond. Seed production prolific; each spike may contain 117,000 to 268,000 tiny seeds.

We notice just about everything on An Island Walk.

comments (14)

  • Ray
  • Thailand
  • 19 Jan 2010, 02:46
You have confirmed this by counting a sample, I suppose? [grin]

In Australia this stuff is known as Cumbungi.

The seeds resemble sperm, and they look like they are in pursuit of an egg.
Mary MacADNski: I've had a comment about your education, Ray. We think you went to a different school than the others.

The cattail is shaped like a penis so your analogy has me wondering if this fact has any bearing on the Aussie nickname as well.
  • zed
  • Australia
  • 19 Jan 2010, 04:43
Man o man does Ray have an encyclopedic memory
Mary MacADNski: He has an answer for everything.
  • vintage
  • Australia
  • 19 Jan 2010, 07:17
Ray didn't go to the same school as me.
Mary MacADNski: I think Ray attended a school of his own.
  • Chris
  • England
  • 19 Jan 2010, 07:58
Good heavens Mary - you counted them!
Mary MacADNski: 26732, 26733, 26734, 267. What? Darn, I've lost my place and have to start all over again.
  • anniedog
  • United Kingdom
  • 19 Jan 2010, 08:29
This had me fooled Mary - I thought it was some body part of a poodle!
Ingrid
Mary MacADNski: The imagination is a great thing, Ingrid.
Quite impressive Mary! Did you count them?
Mary MacADNski: No counting was taking place.
This is also new to me Mary..and very interesting.
Mary MacADNski: This is a very, very interesting plant that is used throughout the life cycle by many different animals.
  • Alan
  • Great Britain (UK)
  • 19 Jan 2010, 12:37
I thought at first that this was the rear end of some hairy cow or bison, maybe! sad I would ecxpect than very few of those seeds germinate.
Mary MacADNski: Most of these seeds will be eaten by birds. The whole plant is used by wildlife in one form or another. I have muskrats in my pond and they eat the young shoots.
I have never heard of this plant Mary, by some of rhe comments I take it, it does not flower.
Mary MacADNski: This is the flower in its last stage with the seeds bursting forth. Check out the link in the shot.
Very interesting shot Mary, they look good when fully grown in the summer.
Mary MacADNski: Yes, in summer they look very uniform. In winter they burst in all directions.
great close up, Mary! the texture on these is incredible. Looks like it could be part of a carpet or something.
It's amazing, I had not ever seen. Good photography.
Mary MacADNski: You are very kind to say this is good photography. My pond has many of these plants.

Es usted muy amable de decir esto es la buena fotografía. Mi estanque tiene muchas de estas plantas.
Like Ingrid & Alan, I also thought it was an animal part at first glance.

It's amazing what a closeup shot will do for your imagination.
Mary MacADNski: I have been thinking and commenting on imagination recently. It is such a wonderful part of our brains.
Nice one.....

Gawd Ray.... (one track mind)
Mary MacADNski: Thanks, Rob. I don't have the camera for perfect macros by any means but it's fun to try.

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camera Canon PowerShot SX10 IS
exposure mode full manual
shutterspeed 1/250s
aperture f/4.0
sensitivity ISO80
focal length 5.0mm
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