Spectacular Show of Seed Dispersal in Desert Rose
The desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a striking plant with succulent stems and deep pinkish red flowers (top photo). Nearly every part of these plants commands our interest, from the dramatically swollen stems on older plants to the bright flowers to the tight clusters of narrow, green leaves. The fruit, a long pod that ranges in length between about 7 to 9 inches (17 to 22 cm), is classified as a follicle. Seeds have cylindrical shapes, with a brown staining integument and a brown-gold pappus (bristles) on both ends, which helps dispersion by wind. Desert rose seeds are similar to the ones in oleander (Nerium oleander), but in this species, bristles are present on only one end.
The flowering photo was taken on June 2, 2005, and the pod and amp seeds photo was taken on January 28, 2019; both in my home garden in Rishon LeZion, Israel.
Photo Details: Top - Camera: PENTAX Optio 330GS; Exposure Time: 0.0050s (1/200); Aperture: ƒ/4.8; Focal Length (35mm): 38. Bottom - Camera: NIKON D7100; Software: Windows Photo Editor 10.0.1; Exposure Time: 0.0040s (1/250); Aperture: ƒ/20.0; ISO equivalent: 500; Focal Length (35mm): 150.
Rishon LeZion, Israel Coordinates 31.9730, 34.7925
Related Links
Seed Dispersal of Nerium Oleander
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Fruit Terminology
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