Rapid seed dispersal by hornets facilitates reproduction of agarwood plants

Aquilaria sinensis (family Thymelaeaceae) is the principal source of Chinese agarwood. It is a vulnerable evergreen tree native to lowland forests in southern China. Its fruit matures during the June-August hot season. However, most of its fruit dehisces on sunny hot-dry afternoons, exposing the seeds under the canopy. Due to this exposure, the seeds desiccate in four hours and lose viability within eight hours. Rapid dispersal is thus essential for these unusually short-lived seeds.


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Source: Phys.org