Need Help Identifying Seeds

[ID000035371dd426460f48f780af5d110a14dba479bb867c3Member Travis Mays]

These seeds were removed from the rumen contents of an elk near Datil, New Mexico. I am unsure of their origin and need assistance identifying them.

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[ID00000564d058b9a90cb8e16bce5351da67a863c0bb213a7Member Jennifer Neudorf]

Hello Travis,

These are good images showing the magnified surface details. I will compare these to our collection.

One question – could you let me know an approximate length and width of these seeds?

Thank you, Jennifer

[ID000035371dd426460f48f780af5d110a14dba479bb867c3Member Travis Mays]

Hi Jennifer,

Thank you for responding. Since submitting my initial images, I received some feedback from someone in New Mexico and I believe these seeds are from Alfombrilla (Drymaria arenarioides). I have attached additional images of the seed with measurements (at 10x magnification), as well as the seed pod. The seed is approximately 95 µm long and 91 µm wide.

I have also attached an image of another seed that was observed in the same animals from New Mexico. It has dimensions of 536 µm long by 66 µm wide. I’m unsure what this seed is so if you are able to assist I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for all of your help!!

Travis

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[ID00000564d058b9a90cb8e16bce5351da67a863c0bb213a7Member Jennifer Neudorf]

Hello,

I took a look through our resources for the Asteraceae achene in image 4, and I didn’t find much unfortunately.

The small size, coroniform pappus (it looks like the scales are fused?) and the bristles at the basal attachment point are good features to match up, if that helps.

I have a couple of resources that I used in my search that may also help:

1. Flora of New Mexico: not many images, but excellent taxonomy and shows distribution at the county level – https://floraneomexicana.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/fnm-iii-part-2-2020.pdf

2. Seed image website from the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden. I haven’t been able to access it for some time, but I think it’s still active. I’ll give you the direct link, and a link to the new caretakers at CBG. If you can get access, this will be a great resource for your seeds.

Direct link to John Macdonald’s images: http://www.hazmac.biz/rsabghome.html

Link to the seed conservation page of California Botanic Garden: https://www.calbg.org/conservation/seed-conservation

Please let me know what you find out. Also, feel free to send more mystery images, I may be able to help a bit, and it’s a great learning experience!

Best, Jennifer

[ID000035371dd426460f48f780af5d110a14dba479bb867c3Member Travis Mays]

Thank you so much Jennifer, for all of your help and information!!

Travis

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