elaiosome

An elaiosome is a fleshy, fat-rich appendage attached to the seeds of certain plants. This structure serves as an attractant for ants. When ants find these seeds, they carry them back to their nests, consuming only the elaiosome. The seed itself, with the elaiosome removed, is then often discarded or left in the nest, effectively dispersing the seed away from the parent plant. This process is a form of seed dispersal known as myrmecochory. While elaiosomes are often oily, they can also contain fatty acids that attract ants. This specialized relationship between plants and ants aids in the propagation of various plant species, particularly herbaceous plants found in northern forests.1