big p seeds

Picture This: The world’s biggest seed

It grows on palms and can weigh more than a toddler

A traveler shows off a massive coco-de-mer nut. This palm seed’s shape isn’t obvious until an outer green husk is stripped off.

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May 21, 2015 at 6:00 am

The secret behind the world’s largest seed is leaves that serve as good gutters. During rains, they channel lots of water and nutrients right to the plant’s thirsty roots.

Coco-de-mer palms (Lodoicea maldivica) produce these monster nuts, which are a type of seed. The biggest can tip the scales at up to 18 kilograms (roughly 40 pounds). That’s about as much as a 4-year-old boy. Yet the palm outperforms all other plants — at least in seed heft — with a below-poverty diet. These plants grow wild on nutrient-starved, rocky soil on just two islands in the Seychelles. (They’re part of an arc of some 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off of the East Coast of Africa.)

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Christopher Kaiser-Bunbury works for the Seychelles Islands Foundation. Despite a scarcity of nutrients to fuel its growth, a palm forest is “magnificent — it’s like a dinosaur could come around the corner,” he says. Winds can jostle hectares (acres) of stiff leaves. This makes a sound he describes as “crackling.”

Nitrogen and phosphorus are two natural fertilizers — nutrients — that these (and other plants) need. There isn’t much of either on the islands where these palms grow. So the plants are frugal. They sprout fronds using only about one-third the nutrients needed by leaves of 56 neighboring species of trees and shrubs. What’s more, coco-de-mer palms scavenge a lot of the nutrients shed in their own dying leaves. These trees can reuse 90 percent of that prized phosphorus from the fronds it’s about to drop. That’s a record for the plant world, report Kaiser-Bunbury and his colleagues in the May New Phytologist.

Creating its monster seeds uses up about 85 percent of this plant’s supplies of phosphorus, the biologists estimate. And the palms manage this, the researchers conclude, thanks to drainage. The palm’s curving leaves easily can span 2 meters (6.6 feet). Creases in them make the leaves resemble folded paper fans. Any rains falling on them will funnel down the stems. That water washes animal droppings, stray pollen and other materials — a nutrient windfall — off of the palm and onto its hungry roots.

Each giant seed takes a long time to grow, about six years. But that won’t happen until the palm first reaches plant “puberty.” On the nutrient-poor ground, this reproductive coming-of-age may take 80 to 100 years. Only then can one of these palms yield its first seed. Throughout a female coco-de-mer palm’s life of several hundred years, it may bear only about 100 seeds.

Few of those monster coconuts will get a chance to replenish the dwindling coco-de-mer forests, however. Kaiser-Bunbury calculates that 20 to 30 percent of the endangered species’ seeds must sprout to keep the forests growing and healthy. But that hasn’t been happening. Nut poachers have been illegally kidnapping the seeds. Then they grind them into a powder that they sell.

Power Words

(for more about Power Words, click here)

fertilizer Nitrogen and other plant nutrients added to soil, water or foliage to boost crop growth or to replenish nutrients that removed earlier by plant roots or leaves.

nitrogen A colorless, odorless and nonreactive gaseous element that forms about 78 percent of Earth’s atmosphere. Its scientific symbol is N. Nitrogen is released in the form of nitrogen oxides as fossil fuels burn.

nut (in biology) The edible seed of a plant, which is usually encased in a hard protective shell.

nutrients Vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates and proteins needed by organisms to live, and which are extracted through the diet.

palm A type of evergreen tree that sprouts a crown of large fan-shaped leaves. Most of the roughly 2,600 different species of palms are tropical or semitropical.

phytology A field of biology devoted to the scientific study of plants.

poach (in ecology) To illegally hunt and take a wild animal or plant. People who do this are referred to as poachers.

phosphorus A highly reactive, nonmetallic element occurring naturally in phosphates. Its scientific symbol is P.

puberty A developmental period in humans and other primates when the body undergoes hormonal changes that will result in the maturation of reproductive organs.

scavenge To collect something useful from what had been discarded as waste or trash.

shrub A perennial plant that grows in a generally low, bushy form.

Citations

J. Richardson. “Desert Plants: The ultimate survivors.” Science News for Students. January 30, 2015.

K. Kowalski. “Explainer: What is a gene bank?” Science News for Students. January 9, 2015.

K. Hulick. “Rare as a rhino.” Science News for Students. October 2, 2014.

Original Journal Source: P.J. Edwards et al. The nutrient economy of Lodoicea maldiva, a monodominant palm producing the world’s largest seed. New Phytologist. Vol. 206, May 2015, p. 990. doi: 10.1111/nph.13272.

About Susan Milius

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Susan Milius is the life sciences writer at Science News, covering organismal biology and evolution, and has a special passion for plants, fungi and invertebrates. She studied biology and English literature.

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Leech Seed (move)

Leech Seed (Japanese: やどりぎのタネ Mistletoe Seed) is a non-damaging Grass-type move introduced in Generation I.

Contents

Effect

Generation I

Leech Seed plants a seed on the target. After a target under the effect of Leech Seed takes its turn, 1 /₁₆ of its HP will be drained (rounded down, but not less than 1), and the same amount of HP will be restored to the target’s opponent (even if it was not the Pokémon that originally used the attack). Recurrent Leech Seed draining will not occur if the seeded Pokémon defeats the target. Unlike other types of damage, the recurrent damage done by Leech Seed can exceed the target’s current HP. Leech Seed will not work against Grass-type Pokémon, and attempts to seed an already-seeded Pokémon will fail.

Leech Seed draining will occur even if the seeded Pokémon knocks itself out with crash damage, recoil damage, or self-inflicted confusion damage, or by making a substitute before the end of its turn. Draining from Leech Seed is done after continuing partial trapping damage and recurrent poison or burn damage. Leech Seed can be removed by Haze or switching. If the target is seeded during a round that it switches in, it will take recurrent damage during that round, but only if its speed is less than or equal to the user’s speed.

If the target of Leech Seed is also under the effect of Toxic (or was under that effect and healed itself with Rest), because Leech Seed and Toxic both use the same damage algorithm, Leech Seed damage will be affected by Toxic’s N parameter, and will increase each turn.

In the Pokémon Stadium series and Japanese cartridges, Leech Seed will not work against a target with a substitute.

Generation II

⅛ of the target’s HP is drained instead. Rapid Spin will release a Pokémon from the effects of Leech Seed. Also, Leech Seed no longer interacts with Toxic damage and Haze no longer affects Leech Seed. If a Pokémon uses Baton Pass, Leech Seed will still be in effect, even if the switched in Pokémon is a Grass type. The user can no longer plant a seed on a target with a substitute (but setting up a substitute does not release a Pokémon from existing effects of Leech Seed).

Generation III onwards

Leech Seed will now drain HP at the end of each turn.

In battles involving multiple Pokémon, Leech Seed will only heal the Pokémon that is in the same position as the Pokémon that originally used Leech Seed was in. If no Pokémon is in that position (for example, if it fainted and could not be replaced), Leech Seed will not take any health from the seeded Pokémon. However, if a Pokémon is later able to occupy that position (if it was revived), Leech Seed will once again sap HP from the seeded Pokémon. While a Pokémon is seeded, even if it cannot have its health drained due to there being no Pokémon in the appropriate slot to drain its HP, it cannot be affected by Leech Seed again.

Leech Seed can be used as part of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining an extra two appeal points if Growth was used in the prior turn. It is also part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining an extra three appeal points if Rototiller was used in the prior turn.

If the target has the Ability Liquid Ooze, the beneficiary Pokémon takes damage instead of restoring HP. If the user is under the effect of Heal Block, Leech Seed will not restore any of the user’s HP. However, the effect damage will be dealt normally. If the user has a Big Root as its held item, it will recover 30% more HP than it normally would. Big Root does not increase damage dealt. All other effects remain the same.

If powered up by a Grassium Z into Z-Leech Seed, all of the user’s lowered stats are reset.

Using Sappy Seed will plant a Leech Seed on the target if it hits.

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
001	Bulbasaur		Monster	Grass	7	7	7	7	7	7	7 US UM 9 P E	9
002	Ivysaur		Monster	Grass	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7 S M US UM 1, 9 P E	9
003	Venusaur		Monster	Grass	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7 S M US UM 1, 9 P E	9
047	Parasect		Bug	Grass	1 P E
102	Exeggcute		Grass		Grass	28	13	13	11	11	11	11 S M US UM 34 P E	10
103	Exeggutor		Grass		Grass	1
103	Exeggutor Alolan Form		Grass		Grass	1
114	Tangela	Grass		Grass	39 P E
187	Hoppip		Fairy	Grass	20	20	22	22	22	22	22 BD SP
188	Skiploom		Fairy	Grass	22	22	24	24	24	24	24 BD SP
189	Jumpluff		Fairy	Grass	22	22	24	24	24	24	24 BD SP
191	Sunkern	Grass		Grass	17	17 B W 13 B2 W2	13	13	13 BD SP
192	Sunflora	Grass		Grass	17	17 B W 13 B2 W2	13	13	13 BD SP
251	Celebi		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	1	1	1	1	1	1	50
285	Shroomish	Fairy	Grass	10	13	13	13 X Y 8 OR AS	8	8 BD SP
286	Breloom		Fairy	Grass	1, 10	1, 13	1, 13	1, 13 X Y 1, 8 OR AS	1, 8	1, 8 BD SP
315	Roselia		Fairy	Grass	21	16	16	16	16	10
331	Cacnea	Grass	Human-Like	13	13	13	13 X Y 10 OR AS	10	10 BD SP
332	Cacturne		Grass	Human-Like	13	13	13	13 X Y 10 OR AS	10	10 BD SP
346	Cradily		Water 3		Water 3	1
387	Turtwig	Monster	Grass	29	29	29	29	29 BD SP
388	Grotle	Monster	Grass	32	32	32	32	32 BD SP
389	Torterra		Monster	Grass	33	33	33	33	33 BD SP
407	Roserade		Fairy	Grass	1
420	Cherubi	Fairy	Grass	10	10	10	10	26
421	Cherrim	Fairy	Grass	10	10	10	1, 10	28
470	Leafeon	Field		Field	20
492	Shaymin Land Forme	Undiscovered		Undiscovered	19	19	19	19	19 BD SP
492	Shaymin Sky Forme		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	19 Pt HG SS	19	19	19	19 BD SP
495	Snivy	Field	Grass	19	19	19
496	Servine	Field	Grass	20	20	20
497	Serperior	Field	Grass	20	20	20
511	Pansage	Field		Field	16	16	16
546	Cottonee		Grass	Fairy	8	8	8	30
547	Whimsicott		Grass	Fairy	1	1	1	1
548	Petilil	Grass		Grass	8	8	8	24
549	Lilligant	Grass		Grass	1	1	1	1
556	Maractus	Grass		Grass	12
585	Deerling		Field		Field	13	13	13
586	Sawsbuck		Field		Field	13	13	13
650	Chespin	Field		Field	15	15
651	Quilladin	Field		Field	15	15
652	Chesnaught		Field		Field	15	15
672	Skiddo	Field		Field	12	12
673	Gogoat	Field		Field	12	12
708	Phantump		Grass	Amorphous	23	23	8
709	Trevenant		Grass	Amorphous	23	23	1
710	Pumpkaboo		Amorphous		Amorphous	20	20	16
711	Gourgeist		Amorphous		Amorphous	20	20	16
764	Comfey	Grass		Grass	4	21
787	Tapu Bulu		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	26	15
797	Celesteela		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	19	55
841	Flapple		Grass	Dragon	12
842	Appletun		Grass	Dragon	12
898	Calyrex		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	64
898	Calyrex Ice Rider		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	64
898	Calyrex Shadow Rider		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	64
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
043	Oddish		Grass		Grass	✔
046	Paras		Bug	Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔ BD SP
114	Tangela	Grass		Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
152	Chikorita	Monster	Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔ BD SP
191	Sunkern	Grass		Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔ BD SP
252	Treecko	Monster	Dragon	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
270	Lotad		Water 1	Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
273	Seedot	Field	Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
357	Tropius		Monster	Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔ BD SP
455	Carnivine	Grass		Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔ BD SP
459	Snover		Monster	Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
556	Maractus	Grass		Grass	✔	✔	✔
597	Ferroseed		Grass	Mineral	✔	✔	✔	✔
755	Morelull		Grass		Grass	✔	✔
810	Grookey	Field	Grass	✔
829	Gossifleur	Grass		Grass	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Special move

Generation III

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
273	Seedot	Field	Grass	Mass outbreak – Route 102, 117 and 120
274	Nuzleaf		Field	Grass	Mass outbreak – Route 114
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Generation V

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
114	Tangela	Grass		Grass	Dream World – Pleasant Forest
270	Lotad		Water 1	Grass	Dream World – Pleasant Forest
357	Tropius		Monster	Grass	Dream World – Windswept Sky
556	Maractus	Grass		Grass	Dream World – Rugged Mountain
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Generation VII

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
152	Chikorita	Monster	Grass	Island Scan – Route 2 S M
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By event

Generation II

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
043	Oddish		Grass		Grass	New York Pokémon Center
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Generation III

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
043	Oddish		Grass		Grass	Egg Pokémon Present
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, and Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, Leech Seed is a move with 17PP and 100% accuracy. The user targets enemy in front, inflicting them with Leech Seed status condition. A Pokémon affected by Leech Seed will be dealt 10 HP damage at the end of every second turn, and 10 HP returned to the user. The status lasts 11-12 turns. This move is affected by Magic Coat and Taunt.

From Gates to Infinity, the Pokémon affected by Leech Seed will be dealt 5 HP damage every second turn, and 5 HP returned to the user. The status lasts 6 turns.

Super Smash Bros. series

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Leech Seed is one of the random outcomes of Togepi’s Metronome. All characters within the area of effect will receive a flower on their head that causes 5% damage every few seconds.