4/16/08

Orchid Tree Seed Pods Explode in April

Bauhinia variegata (Orchid Tree) seed pods literally explode. I was in the garage yesterday for 8 hours getting work done, and I kept hearing little exlosions come from the two trees nearby.

I'm talking "explode"!!! They didn't just fall to the ground, they have been bursting sideways, straight up, and straight down. A few of them even put a little nick in my car (which I'm not upset about cause it's cool). Some of them have burst into my garage from across the street. I'm so serious.

Dehisce (v. "burst open") is the term used to describe bauhinia variegata seed pods exploding behavior. The seeds are very hard, brown, and flat.
I'm going to plant a few of the seeds to see if they grow. This tree is considered invasive to Florida, so I will not actually keep the seedlings. I really don't like the dropped leaves that are persistently blowing around the neighborhood, so I wouldn't grow this tree even it weren't invasive. It's beautiful when in bloom though and I like to admire it from a short distance.

5 comments:

  1. Do you happen to have a picture of the actual seed of the orchid tree? We have a bag of seeds which we are trying to identify. Thanks. Tom
    ReplyDelete
  2. Thomas, I do have photos. I also have an update on the orchid tree and how it looks now, several months later. Go to my most recent post at www.daniellecopeland.com.

    -Danielle
    ReplyDelete
  3. if you plant the seed it will come up, once they take root they are hard to pull up, i started some in pots but decided not to keep them sence they are so invaseive,and messy,
    ReplyDelete
  4. I have been looking for seeds. Would it be possible for you to mail me a few seeds? If so, let me know and I'll send my mailing address.

    I had a tree, and loved it. However, the hurricanes killed my tree.
    When I got the seed pods they were in my car. It happened that I was driving home through a rough part of town. They got warm, and started to explode. It scared me half to death, I thought somone was shooting at me. Did I have a good laugh when I discovered it was the seed pods exploding.
    ReplyDelete
  5. Have seeds, but dunno who you are.
    ReplyDelete

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