Birch Tree Seeds? - bonsaiTALK Community

9-Jan-2003	#1
Zack4510 bonsaiTALK Neophyte Join Date: Jan-2003 Location: Afton Country: Uniited states Posts: 2	Birch Tree Seeds? can Somebody Tell me what white b irch tree seeds look like? Thanks, Zach

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9-Jan-2003	#2
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,745	Birches produce separate male and female catkins, which are thin, pendulous, conelike structures that are most conspicuous in fall after leaf drop. They break apart in your fingers (or the elements) into hundreds of tiny scales that disperse in the wind carrying pollen or seeds. You can find some photos of both catkin and seed here http://www.british-trees.com/Oldsite/seeds/p9.htm Regards, Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

9-Jan-2003	#3
Alicia bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Nov-2001 Country: Canada USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 33	oh my... That is most useful information. I wonder now if the seeds I purchased from a very reputable tree seed company would have come with their own pollen source. Any thoughts? __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

10-Jan-2003

Sheep

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Join Date: Dec-2002

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Re: oh my...

Quote:

Originally posted by Alicia
I wonder now if the seeds I purchased from a very reputable tree seed company would have come with their own pollen source.
Any thoughts?

I know a bit about plants and it is quite likely that the seeds you received could be either pollenated or not. They wouldn't include pollen, since the preliminary fertilization must have already occured, or it will never. The fertilization of the egg by the sperm cell (pollen) must occur while the female part is connected to the tree. If you went outside and gathered at the right time of the year, the seeds you gathered will (just a reasonable guess) have a 95% chance of being fertilized.

I am almost certain. But anyone correct me if I am wrong...

Best,
Justin

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10-Jan-2003	#5
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,745	I believe pollination must occur first in order to create a mature seed. A mature seed contains a little plant embryo, food source and a protective coating. For most plants fertilization would occur in spring through early summer, when we get the high pollen index. Then the seeds would form and be released in the fall through winter. So if you have mature seeds, they majority should be okay for planting. Birch are so prolific I can't imagine that they wouldn't have been fertilized. Regards, Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

10-Jan-2003	#6
Alicia bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Nov-2001 Country: Canada USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 33	Sorry I think my brain shut down temperarily. lol For some reason when I originally read the post I was picturing the seeds and pollen crossing paths while floating through the air. LOL I really am not that dumb, I just have my blond moments. Thanks for the clarification though. __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

11-Jan-2003

ROBOKU

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Here is the catkins forming

Attached Images

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