The Seed Development Process
Cherry blossom trees are a beloved sight to behold each year during the blooming season. The sight of those clouds of cheerful pink and white petals inspires an appreciation for the cycle of life as the trees signal the start of spring. But what about the tiny seeds tucked beneath the petals? Where are the seeds in a cherry blossom tree?
The seed development process begins before the flower even blooms. The tiny seeds take shape at the beginning of the summer season after the flowers have bloomed and begun to wither. During this time the untouched petals protect the seeds from the intense sun and rain while they mature. After a few weeks, the petals fall and expose the small green pods that house the fibrous black seeds. This green pod is known as an infructescence, and it grows in a tree’s place of origin and serves as home to its seeds.
These infructescences remain firmly attached to the tree branches until they become ripe with seeds, a process that typically takes a few weeks or up to summer’s end. Depending on the climate, fruits can form from the infructescence of one or more flowers within the same group. They range from one to three centimeters in length and turn from green to yellow or red.
Gently snipping at the ripe infructescence yields black seeds the size of small grains of sand. Once opened, the individual black seeds may be sowed or eaten as a particularly sweet snack. But these infructescences serve another, equally important purpose.
The seeds are a vital lifeline for the tree, ensuring their own propagation and assuring the cycle of life may continue. According to Dr. Motoko Akimoto of Tohoku University, “it’s a crucial time for cherry blossom trees to mature and spread their seed. But in colder climates, the blossom trees rely on a longer ripening period to accommodate the climatic conditions there.”
It is easy to appreciate the beauty of what’s on the surface of a cherry blossom. But where are the seeds in a cherry blossom tree? Understanding their development and the integral role of their small green pods, it is clear that these tiny vessels contain a treasure of potential and possibility.
How Do the Seeds Change Over Time?
As the cherry blossom’s seed matures, it undergoes changes that make it suitable for reproduction. Its cell walls become thicker and harder, and its cellular contents become more complex. This transformation is due to a secreted sugary substance in the seed casing that is essential in the seed maturation process.
At first, the seeds depend solely on the tree’s stored reserves to stay alive. Gradually, the seed’s nutrients increase and its size shrinks as it hardens and prepares for the next stage of growth. Eventually, a great majority of the cells in the seed will dwindle and dissolve as the stored nutrients are absorbed into the surrounding environment.
The important process of seed maturation lasts from around mid-summer until the weather starts to turn cooler. In some regions with warmer climates, the ripening process for the cherry blossom’s seeds can take up to two months.
Once the seed matures, the climate of its place of origin will dictate how long the seed remains viable. Some seeds survive multiple growing seasons while others begin to lose their viability within a few weeks of maturation. A cherry tree’s seed viability truly depends on its surroundings.
What Conditions Are Necessary for Germination?
Once a cherry tree’s seed is mature, it needs to be exposed to appropriate temperatures in order to begin the germination process. In ideal conditions, the seed will remain at an ideal temperature of around 10 degrees Celsius. This temperature must stay consistent in order for the seed to properly develop and grow into a new cherry blossom tree.
But temperature is not the only important factor that contributes to the viability of the seed. It must also be in receipt of enough water, typically in the form of rain, for a period of time. Most seeds require a period of twelve hours or more in contact with the water in order for the seed to germinate properly.
Other components, such as light and air, also play a role in the process of germination. After the seed is planted, the light helps stimulate photosynthesis while the air supplies the oxygen needed to drive the metabolic process. Too little or too much of either of these elements and the germination process will fail.
These days, tree nurseries and botanists have access to a variety of growing mediums, in addition to laboratory-controlled environments, to ensure their cherry blossom trees thrive. Despite our advances in technology, the science behind Mother Nature remains a bit of a mystery. Nonetheless, the answer to the question of where are the seeds in a cherry blossom tree becomes crystal clear.
How Can Humans Propagate Cherry Blossom Trees?
Once the cherry tree’s seeds have matured and ripened, individuals can grow their own cherry blossom tree from the harvested seeds. Experienced gardeners use a variety of propagation techniques, such as freezing the seeds to break their dormancy barrier and creating their own potting mix.
The majority of cherry blossom species, such as the Sakura, are propagated from cuttings. These cuttings are gathered from existing cherry trees and placed in special propagation mediums, where they will continue to grow and form new cherry trees.
Though it may be difficult, experts say it is indeed possible to create a cherry blossom tree using fruit-borne seeds. To start, they recommend soaking the seeds in water overnight or scarifying the seed’s surface with files or sandpaper. This will help active enzymes and allow the seed to sprout.
Once the process is complete, many growers tend to pot their seedlings in high-fertility soil that drains quickly. These experts also advise against changing containers once the seedling has begun to adapt to its environment. It is also advised to regularly water the tree and make sure it gets enough sunlight.
How Do People Preserve Cherry Blossom Seeds?
Due to the perishable nature of cherry blossom’s seeds, the majority of specimens found in nature will not remain viable over time. Despite being able to stay dormant for multiple growing cycles, many of the seeds lose their reproductivity by the start of the next season.
That’s why most serious gardeners freeze their seeds in small sealable containers once they’ve been harvested. Freezing the seeds creates an artificial environment in which the seeds can remain dormant their until the time comes for them to be used.
Specialty stores also offer a range of packaging solutions specifically tailored for the preservation of cherry blossom tree’s seeds. These range from bags and envelopes to pouches and even tubes that can store multiple seeds.
Experts suggest testing the seeds for viability before planting them in the ground, as not all seeds can come back to life under the right conditions. After being kept in storage, individuals may find that some remain at the same level of vitality while others will have become diminished with no viability left.
Can You Buy Cherry Blossom Seeds?
Many enthusiasts choose to purchase cherry blossom tree’s seeds online and in some niche stores. The buyers of these seeds will not only save time, but they will also receive guaranteed germination rates, ensuring that the purchased seeds are as healthy as possible.
In some cases, the sellers will also offer a range of cherry blossom tree seed’s varieties that are not readily available in nature. These types usually come from hybrid cherry blossom trees that have a unique color and flower pattern, much different from the traditional white and pink blossoms you’ll find in nature.
But if you’re looking for more conventional cherry tree varieties, the availability of these seeds changes depending on the harvest season. In regions with cold winters, such as the United States and Europe, the most viable cherry tree seeds are typically available around May or June. But in hot summer areas like Japan and China, the optimal time to purchase cherry blossom tree seed’s falls between September and October.
Conclusion
The seeds in a cherry blossom tree take months to properly mature, and their maturation depends on the place of their origin’s climate. Once they’re ripe, they can be harvested and carefully stored, or even propagated to create your own cherry blossom tree. In the end, understanding how these tiny vessels contain a store of potential makes appreciating their beauty that much easier.
