Viktor Sykora
Agrimonia eupatorium seed, 2008

Scanning electron photomicrograph; JEOL 6380 scanning electron microscope; post-capture digital colorization

First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

AAgrimony is a perennial flowering plant that is in the same botanical family as the rose. It exhibits medicinal anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Parts of these plants contain large quantities of tannins and flavonoids, as well as smaller amounts of essential oils and vitamin C. This photograph shows the upper part of an Agrimony seed with its hook-like protrusions. These hooks along with the burrs, spine, and bristle structures, assist in seed dispersal through a process known as epizoochory, where animals inadvertently transport plant seeds or fruits because the seed becomes temporarily attached on the host’s fur.

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