For a 5th grade class project, We're trying to determine what kind of
seed this is:  round with 3 "wings" with tiny dark seed in center,
3/4" long with a tiny tail.  I don't expect you to be able to tell us
what exactly this is - but if you can point us to some websites with
pictures or diagrams of seeds, would be helpful.  We think it's a farm
seed - the teacher has asked for a recipe made with this seed & 5
facts.  Thanks!

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Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 31 Dec 2004 09:13 PST

tjsmom -- 

I am about to take a look around for you, but it occurs to me to ask
you whether the reference to "five facts" is meant to be a clue to the
identification of the seed.  If it is, I don't understand it.

markj-ga

Hello tjsmom,

Below you will find the results of my research for websites with
pictures or diagrams of seeds.


An excellent resource for seed identification is The Seed Site 
http://theseedsite.co.uk/

If you have seeds without a name, this section will help you identify them.
Life-size pictures of 500 seeds in order of size and shape, and a
Database with photos and descriptions of the seedpods.

See the images of the seeds by size and shape by clicking on the
numbers from 1 to 20.
http://theseedsite.co.uk/seedpods.html

The Seedpods section is a Database of over 300 plants, with pictures
of the seedpod and a description of the seedpod and seeds. There's
also a picture of the seeds, The Database is in alphabetical order of
Latin names.
http://theseedsite.co.uk/seedpods.html

Seeds with tufts or tails
http://theseedsite.co.uk/seedsize11.html

Large flat seeds with papery wings or edges
http://theseedsite.co.uk/seedsize20.html


**************************************************


The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture of Purdue
University offers a nice Vegetable Seed Images Index.

Click on the name of the vegetable to see a clear picture of the seed.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/rhodcv/hort410/vegseed.htm


**************************************************


Texas A&M University provides Vegetable Seeds and Seed Information.

Click on the small image of the seeds on the attached descriptions to
see a full screen view.
The magnification bar in the image represents 1 cm.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/seeds/tamuhort.html


**************************************************


The Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
also provides seed images.
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~seedbio/seed_id/

**************************************************



Here are images of Legume Crop Seeds
Click on a photo to see a larger image and learn more details about
each seed. http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/AGMANIA/SEEDID/LEGUME.asp


Here are images of Vegetable Seeds
Click on a photo to see a larger image and learn more details about
each seed. http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/AGMANIA/SEEDID/VEGETA.asp


**************************************************


Forage Identification Pages
Check out the side by side comparison of seeds from their identification pages.
http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/forageid.htm


**************************************************

Search criteria:
Seed identification 
Seed identification site:.edu
Seed images
Seed images site:.edu


I hope this is helpful.

Best regards,
Bobbie7

---

Request for Answer Clarification by tjsmom-ga on 02 Jan 2005 15:09 PST

This is good - directing us to the right kind of websites, but still
not getting the right type of seed.  These mostly seem to focus on
vegetables.  Can you give further direction to grain or grass seed
photos?

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 02 Jan 2005 15:18 PST

Thank you for your clarification. I will do further research and I
will try to find grain or grass seed photos.

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 02 Jan 2005 15:57 PST

I found some additional resources for you.


The Mississippi State University seed identification publication
provides nice clear photographs of grain and grass seeds.
http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1397.pdf

===============================================


Science for Ohio's Online Seed Tour is an online resource for seed
identification in the classroom. Click on a specific tree below to see
its seed and a leaf sample
http://casnov1.cas.muohio.edu/scienceforohio/SeedTour/index.html


===============================================


Wing seed photos
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plfeb99c.htm


===============================================

The Seed Identification Manual may be available at your local library.
http://www.blackburnpress.com/seidma.html

===============================================


Seed Technology Educational Program at the Colorado State University
presents seedimages.com. A seed photo and image database. Over 1000
species of seeds are featured along with seed accompanying
descriptions. This site also has a series of seed keys for beginners
to learn seed identification through.
http://www.seedimages.com

Access is based on registration and payment of a fee.

Want to subscribe to seedimages.com seed database?
?Click to go to the SUBSCRIPTION FORM which can be printed out and
mailed or Faxed to us.?
Student Rate--$25.00

SUBSCRIPTION FORM 
http://www.seedimages.com/OrderForm-Seedimages.pdf

===============================================


The Seed Identification Kit may be helpful
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/nationalgardening/14-1134p.html
 
===============================================

Title:  Weed Seed Identification: Grasses
Price:  $ 0.50 http://www.extension.umn.edu/abstracts/nonweb/abstract.html?item=02228

===============================================



I hope this added information is helpful.

Best regards,
Bobbie7

We greatly appreciated the many academic classification websites to
search for this crazy seed - turned out to be a Japanese Knotweed
seed.  The only way to find it was to pour through these picture
sites, which we were unable to find doing our basic google search. 
Thank you very much, bobbie7!

tjsmom --

I know it's a long shot, but the one three-winged seed I was able to
find is that of a plant with the scientific name of Dodonaea Viscosa. 
Here is a link to an image of the seed (which shows only two of the
wings):

http://www.hawaii.edu/scb/docs/science/seed/part4/seedImagesLarge/Haw137a.jpg 

It is a shrub in the Soapberry family and has the familiar names of
Varnish Leaf and Hopberry.  It is apparently native to New Zealand,
Hawaii and Florida, presumably among other places.  Here are links to
images of the shrub and its flowers:

http://www.nps.gov/kaho/KAHOckLs/KAHOplnt/aalii.htm

http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc2041.htm


markj-ga