In the subtropical forests of Japan's Shimoshima Island lives *Balanophora subcupularis*, a parasitic plant that feeds on the roots of other plants. For over a century, how *Balanophora subcupularis* disperses its seeds has been shrouded in mystery. Recently, Japanese scientists have discovered that insects play a key role in its seed dispersal.
A research team from Kobe University in Japan published two papers in the international journal 'Ecology' on the 4th (local time), revealing that ants and crickets are responsible for dispersing the seeds of *Balanophora subcupularis*.
Small seeds are often dispersed by wind, but there is little to no wind in the subtropical understory where *Balanophora subcupularis* grows. Seeds can also be spread after being eaten by birds and rabbits, which are attracted by fragrant fruits and bright colors. However, *Balanophora subcupularis* emits a foul odor and has a dull appearance. For these reasons, its reproductive mechanism has remained unclear since its discovery.
To uncover the reproductive mechanism of *Balanophora subcupularis*, a team led by botanist Kenji Suetsugu of Kobe University observed the plant in the wild for over 100 hours and took tens of thousands of automated nighttime photographs during its flowering and fruiting periods. They were observing which animals visit *Balanophora subcupularis*. The observations revealed that its seeds are dispersed by ants and camel crickets.
"It is well known that many plants rely on insects like bees and butterflies for pollination, but it is rare for ants and crickets to play that role," said researcher Suetsugu. He analyzed, "*Balanophora subcupularis* likely had no choice but to depend on ants and crickets for pollination because it blooms at the end of the year when bees and butterflies are not active, and it grows on the northern tip of the island where other animals are scarce."
The research team stated, "This study highlights the importance of invertebrates like insects in the reproductive mechanisms of plants," and added, "It provides clues on how to conserve rare and endangered plants."
<References>
-DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4464
-DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4465
