The plant colonizes in an interesting process known as myrmecochory.The link goes to Wikipedia:
Myrmecochory... is seed dispersal by ants, an ecologically significant ant-plant interaction with worldwide distribution. Myrmecochorous plants produce seeds with elaiosomes, a term encompassing various external appendages or "food bodies" rich in lipids, amino acid, or other nutrients that are attractive to ants. The seed with its attached elaiosome is collectively known as a diaspore. Seed dispersal by ants is typically accomplished when foraging workers carry diaspores back to the ant colony after which the elaiosome is removed or fed directly to ant larvae. Once the elaiosome is consumed the seed is usually discarded in underground middens or ejected from the nest....Myrmecochory, elaiosomes, diaspores....
Bloodroot... putting the "ant" in "plant."
This is a good metaphor for... something! I hope it's politics, because one of the big themes here at Althouse is insect politics.
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15 comments:
The ant is an Elaiosome Stooge.
Eatanter.
Maybe there'll be a campaign to extend human rights to the Brundlefly.
I, for one, welcome our insect overlords.
Myr is the Norwegian word for "ant."
"pismire" = pissmyr
Myrmecochory. Seed dispersal by ants is typically accomplished when foraging workers carry diaspores back to the ant colony after which the elaiosome is removed or fed directly to ant larvae.
Insect politics...
Wasn't that the principle behind JournoList?
Wasn't that the principle behind JournoList?
@EDH, it was indeed.
"Wasn't that the principle behind JournoList?"
What is the bloodroot, who are the ants, what is the elaiosome, and what is the diaspore?
This is a complicated metaphor, so lay it out, please.
Ann Althouse said...
This is a complicated metaphor, so lay it out, please.
foraging workers = JournoListers
carry diaspores = preferred memes
back to the ant colony = mainstream media outlets
elaiosome is removed = inconvenient facts, context, whole truth
fed directly to ant larvae = media consumers
Woops, correction:
elaiosome is removed = separated from inconvenient facts, context, whole truth
@EDH What is the bloodroot?
Ant is in the eye of the beholder.
Ann Althouse said...
@EDH What is the bloodroot?
The bloodroot is the endless network of liberal activist groups -- many of them already government funded -- that initially "uncover" and "frame" evermore pressing issues and needs of the day.
The bloodroot activists produce these critical issue diaspores in a way that demands even more state action, in symbiosis with their self-interested, statist enablers both inside and outside government.
It's not that there isn't a scintilla of truth within a particular core issue, but the bloodroot activists and JournoListers made sure to separate the wheat from the chaff in a way that advances the supreme leftist goals, even if the media consumer has to be fed the chaff in order to advance the meme.
How's that?
"How's that?"
LOL.
Thank you for this. I planted Bloodroot in the garden 20 years ago and it has spread all over. It is clearly being transported by some mechanism but I didn't know what it was.
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