Plantwatch: the Natal crocus co-opts fire, bees and ants to reproduce

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that it tricks ants into moving its seeds with a scent that mimics their larvae Plants are superb at enticing animals to pollinate their flowers or carry off their seeds. But one plant co-opts an astonishing combination of fire, bees and ants to mastermind its reproduction. The South African Natal crocus, Apodolirion buchananii, has a gloriously bright white flower that emerges from the ground before its leaves appear in early spring. But the flower only blooms...

By Paul Simons