| Author | Content |
IsabelDoyle
Teddington
United Kingdom
August 5, 2012 8:46 AM Post #9230220
| Sorry, I know it isn't exactly a plant but I couldn't find anywhere else to post this question. My grandmother used to own a seed which she had brought back as a souvenior from some country or other (she traveled a lot). I know it is a rare seed and she always kept it in a small wooden box. I'm sure she told me what tree it came from but I can't remember now. The seed is a glossy redish brown colour. It is almost a circular shape but is slightly irregular. It is about 6 or 7mm long, 7mm across and 2 or 3mm thick. It has a white "stem" which covers the top of the seed. The stem is about 1mm long. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sallyg
Anne Arundel,, MD (Zone 7a)
August 5, 2012 11:45 AM Post #9230387
| This is the place for the question but it might take longer than the usual. How interesting that she'd keep this one tiny seed in a special box all that time.. |
OldNed
Merritt Island, FL (Zone 10a)
August 5, 2012 1:19 PM Post #9230523
| That's a Circassian Seed..also called Red Sandlewood or Manjadikuru. (Not related to real Sandlewood). If you pull the white "stopper", you might see twelve elephants:
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
August 5, 2012 3:06 PM Post #9230630
| How neat to have one that old. They are really cool..
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plmar97.htm |
sallyg
Anne Arundel,, MD (Zone 7a)
August 5, 2012 4:45 PM Post #9230751
| Fascinating link!
I hope Isabel shows us what she has. |
IsabelDoyle
Teddington
United Kingdom
August 5, 2012 6:15 PM Post #9230883
| Oh wow thanks that's so cool! I might never have known this if you hadn't told me, after hours of searching I was beginning to think I'd never find out what it was. Now I think about it I can definitely hear something rattling inside the seed. I'm not sure if I should open it since it's stayed closed so long. Do you think I'd be able to put the "stopper" back in if I took it out? Thanks so much this has been really helpful! |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
August 6, 2012 6:48 AM Post #9231352
| I think you could give it a gentle tug to see if it will open, and yes, I think the stopper would fit back in if you do open it. It has been protected all these years in it's box. What a lovely little treasure. |
IsabelDoyle
Teddington
United Kingdom
August 6, 2012 4:49 PM Post #9232186
| Ok, so I opened the seed and found eight tiny little ivory elephants inside (not twelve I'm afraid!). Oh and I looked at the link you posted and it said that these seeds are from India. My great grandparents lived in India so this seed might have belonged to them-If that's true it's older than I thought. Here's a photo of the elephants (The only dark surface I could find to put them on was the chair my cat sits on so you may see some cat hair, sorry about that!) 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sallyg
Anne Arundel,, MD (Zone 7a)
August 6, 2012 5:00 PM Post #9232205
| Isn't that wonderful? Thanks for showing us! |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
August 7, 2012 8:11 AM Post #9232918
| How delightful Isabel. Thanks for letting us know. |
