Amazing Violets

 

The common violet, I recently learned, is an unusual plant.   I wonder how many other plants have these kind of abilities.   It blooms for an unusually long time, almost 3 weeks.   It also is able to move it’s petals, putting them flat, turning them down, lifting them !   Each position shows the location of its nectar to whatever insect is arriving to feed, as some insect pollinators come from above, some from below, making access more convenient.   It also has a secret flower that doesn’t open and digs into the ground and is self fertilizing.   If you are wondering why violets pop up in various places away from the plant, it can propel ripe seeds a short distance away, like tiny bombs.  

It also coats its seeds with fat to make them desirable to ants.   The ants take the seeds to their nests to eat the fat and then deposit the  seeds in their discard pile along with their dung and remains of any unwanted food, thus creating a very healthy seed bed. 

 

Elizabeth Donnell

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