Going with the flow
In the Amazon River basin, some 100,000 km2 of jungle are flooded for several months a year. All the fruit that falls from the trees during this time drifts toward potential new colonization grounds. Although rare in Canada, this form of seed dispersal, called hydrochory (Dispersal of plant seeds by water.
), is common in many spots around the globe.
In Quebec, the common hackberry grows in flood zones; sometimes its fruit falls into the water or onto the ground just before spring thaw. If frozen, the fruit can remain afloat for several days, and even weeks, at a time. Moreover, almost all the seeds germinate, even after two or three weeks in the water. This might be an excellent example of hydrochory in Quebec. Watch this space!
