Cyclamen Question

I think I enjoy the seed pods as much as the flowers. A tiny flat area develops with holes around it, like a poppy seed pod, when the pod is ripe so the seed can be shaken out and distributed. Most of my self sown seedlings grow in gravel, dry stone walls or between paving, which should tell me the growing conditions cyclamen seed prefer. Arid with no nutrients. The seeds are slightly sticky for some reason. I have always understood ants like to take them, I am not sure if they eat them, perhaps the sticky coating is sweet.

 

I think it is the sweet coating that attracts them. Also, when the seeds are fresh like that, they germinate far quicker. Once they're dried out, they only start to germinate in the spring

 

@fairygirl I like the white cyclamen too. Nearly all mine are the pink but I did spot 1 white in a container the other day so I'll see if it produces a seed pod.

I did get some seeds from NDN last year but had no luck with germination. They weren't the hardy ones tho.
Plenty of ants here but if they do take the seeds, I've not noticed any results popping up anywhere.

 

I have pink and white, they just keep popping up all over the place in my garden. Started about 10 years ago.
@Philippa who or what is NDN; other than a TLA?

 

Apologies @NigelJ it's Next Door Neighbour - one of the very few acronyms I understand and am guilty of using. I was puzzling over the TLA for a moment but just realised.........the dreaded "3 letter acronym"

 

C. hederifolium has spread all over my garden since I planted some about 20 yrs ago, possibly longer.
I also planted C. coum but they have just died out for some reason.

 

I had a look at my white cyclamen yesterday @Philippa , but the seed pods aren't well enough developed yet. It'll be a few weeks yet. I know where the main patch of white is, so it'll be easier to keep an eye out for them, and even if I miss them, I should be able to pick them off the surrounding gravel/moss where they are.
Ants do disperse seed, but most of ours probably spread by themselves. I expect there might be one or two, but I never see ants at this time of year - rarely see them at any time, other than when the peonies are budding up and they're harvesting the greenfly. It's not something we're very bothered by. Not consistently dry enough for them to successfully make nests etc.

 

I find that my hardy ones don't open the seed pods until spring.

 

That might be the case @pete . I've never actually looked in any great depth as to the timeline.
I'll be paranoid now that I'll miss them|!

 

I often find them open after the leaves are gone, which can even be as late as June, usually still seed inside.

 

I think it is great to continue to be surprised, learn something new and wonder at Mother Nature, no matter how 'senior' we may be.
My grandfather showed me how to look at minuscule parts of plants using a watch makers glass. The areas deep down inside flowers, individual seeds, seed pods, etc. Amazing.

 

That's interesting @pete . I'll be keeping a look out.
I probably don't see any seed that falls from the plants that are in the gravel, because they'll just fall into the gaps, but I've not noticed seed as late as that in any borders - maybe because I have a lot of ground cover, so other planting will cover them. I have one patch that's being kept fairly clear as it's where I have new hedging, so I'll try and remember to look.