Comments on: “Flying” Seeds…

By: Ferdinand Lanestosa

Ferdinand Lanestosa — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 12:23:59 +0000

Thanks Peter Balzer for the scientific name of the Taluto tree. I was searching for taxonomic classification of this tree because it is included in my research here in Mindoro, Philippines. It is still abundant here because the tree is protected by the Mangyan tribe for honeybees. The flowers are food of the honeybees and honey is a prized forest product. There are three more tree species which feed the honeybees with their nectar I know only with their local name – the Karangyan, Malugay and Malago.

By: Ian Jacobs

Ian Jacobs — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:22:20 +0000

Thanks for the ID and the drone idea. Somewhat unusual tree here (Thailand). Fruit and wing from Rayong as a 3D cross view is here … httpss://www.flickr.com/photos/jacobs_ian/26084296966/in/dateposted-public/

By: Footloose

Footloose — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:12:21 +0000

Art imitating life https://arsvitaest.tumblr.com/post/87874548498

By: Marketman

Marketman — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 05:15:33 +0000

Peter, thanks for identifying the tree… Apitong and Lawaan are trees whose names I used to hear quite often growing up, but today it’s getting harder and harder to find them…

By: Peter Balzer

Peter Balzer — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 04:33:45 +0000

Hello MarketMan,
the seeds are from Taluto (Pterocymbium tinctorium) from the Malva family. The genus name indicates that the wings are boat-shaped. But there are many more tree in the Philippines that produce winged seeds. One other large family of Philippine trees is named after their winged seeds: Dipterocarpaceae. Trees like Apitong and Lawaan belong to it. Unfortunately, they are becoming rare in the Philippine forests…
All the Best to you and your family,
Peter

By: millet

millet — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 13:45:07 +0000

i’ve always been fascinated by them. nice one, MM.

By: belle

belle — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 04:23:59 +0000

Your shots are like a work of art with these flying seeds Mr. MM. Nice to put up on your wall.

By: Footloose

Footloose — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:05:18 +0000

@Marilen, Pretty close to those of dragonflies although they obviously developed separately as nature’s attempt at navigating in thin air. They remind me of “just one of those things, a flight to the moon on gossamer wings.” I heard the kernel is edible but I haven’t tasted it. It looks like edamame, probably tastes similar too.

By: marilen

marilen — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 02:53:29 +0000

Some species of maple trees also drop thousands of these ‘helicopter’ seeds. Beautiful to see how translucent the ‘pods’ are, when they dry up, almost like alabaster. Love to look at the fine veins of the ‘wings’

By: odessa

odessa — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 08:27:59 +0000

the mahogany seeds MM do the same. we toss them into the air and watch them “fly” … :)