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

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 larvaePlants 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 appe…