Mariton: Seed Bounty

by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager

Deer tracks filled with seeds

I took a walk last Friday, after Thursday’s snow. It was cold, but I was dressed for the weather, so it didn’t bother me.  I was amazed at all the Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) seeds everywhere on the snow.   The easterly winds really helped blow the seeds from the trees, but there are still more seeds in the canopy.  You can see in the following photos how many seeds there were on just a short section of trail, but thewoods and trails were covered.  I have no concept of how many seeds were on top of the snow.  There are millions for sure, but billions? even trillions?

A wind row of seeds on the left

How many seeds are just in this photo?