Page 36 - Antennae Issue #52

Above: Voyria Voyria tenella growing in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a rainforest in in in in Panama Voyria Voyria produces what are are are known as as ‘dust seeds’ which are are are among the the the smallest produced by any any plant (many orchids also produce produce produce dust dust dust seeds) Their size means that they are are are easily dispersed but there is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a tradeoff: dust dust seeds seeds seeds contain no no stored nutrients to to to sustain the the the the the the the early growth o of of seedlings Voyria Voyria seeds seeds seeds must encounter a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mycorrhizal fungus before they can germinate From the the the the the very beginning of of their their lives Voyria Voyria depend on on their their fungal partners for for nourishment Photograph: Christian Ziegler Right and and and top of of of page 38: The root root systems of of of Voyria are poorly adapted to to to to the the the task of of of absorbing minerals and and and water from the the the soil and and and have evolved into into fungal fungal ‘farms’ Mycorrhizal fungi crowd into into their roots roots in in in in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a tangled mass A close look will reveal fungal fungal hyphae encasing and and trailing off the the the the the the the the roots roots roots This is is is particularly visible in in in in in in in in in in the the the the the the the the top image o of of of of page 38 where small fragments o of of of of soil remain caught in in in in in in in in in in the the the the the the the the sticky fungal web — a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a rare glimpse o of of of of of the the the the the the the the connections that that link plant roots roots and and their surroundings On the the the the the the the the right the the the the the the the the vestiges o of of of of of Voyria’s leaves are are visible as small scales that that tightly hug the the the the the stem The root root clusters of of Voyria range from 50-150 millimetre across 36 antennae