Soft pink hint of autumn

Day 43 #365DaysWild 

An early soft pink hint of autumn in the woodland garden. The first cyclamen hederifolium flowers are coming out!! 

Cyclamen seeds are naturally dispersed by ants. The ants then carry the seed into their nest, eat the elaiosome and discard the seed. 

Seed dispersal by ants is called myrmecochory. 

The seeds have a sticky covering called an elaiosome which attracts ants. 

When the seeds germinate, they eventually build really big tubers just beneath the soil surface. 

When the plant has finished flowering, the glossy patterned leaves remain and continue to adorn the shaded ground beneath trees until spring.