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 18 germinating a seed DHJanzen100592.jpg high resolution
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| Each hard Enterolobium seed has had a small notch(es) cut out of one or both ends. These are not failed attempts to cut into the rock hard seed - the Liomys mice can easily cut their way through dry, hard and dormant seeds. These seeds have had their hard seed coats penetrated and then left. If one of these notched seeds is placed on moist soil, as has been the seed to the left, it immediately begins to take up moisture and germinate - turning soft, and presumably undergoing internal chemical changes, such as converting defensive lectins and digestion inhibitors (both being proteins) into amino acids and peptides to then use for seedling construction. In effect, the mouse is making bean sprouts, just as we do. | ||
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