Oops... wrong forum. Meant to post in seed saving.

vajeff,

That white stuff is just some of the fruit flesh sticking to the seed; perfectly normal. I save the seeds of Datura metel each year and they always have that small amount of whitish flesh attached right where the root will come out of the seed. I think it serves as a natural germination inhibitor. I once experimented with Datura seeds by removing that fruit flesh from half of the seeds I sowed. In almost every case, the seeds with the flesh removed germinated quite a bit sooner than those with the flesh still attached.

Whew. It's a relief knowing that I'm not going to be stuck with overwintering several plants now.

Thank you!

See " elaiosome"

...an oil-rich body on seeds or fruits that attracts ants, which then act as dispersal agents - they carry the seed with the food attached back to their underground nests, 'planting' the seed.

If you aren't an ant and aren't interested, just leave it - it will dry up quickly on its own, no need to remove it.

Wow morz8 thanks for that info! I looked up "Elaiosome" (Wikipedia) and found the explanation very interesting. Isn't nature amazing?

Yes, it is :) I don't grow datura, but I do harvest seeds of trillium with the ant attracting appendage/elaiosome, and the one that almost covers cyclamen individual seeds makes the seeds hard to handle until they've dried a couple of days - they totally stick to your fingers.

That's astounding! I'd have never guessed..

Come to think of it, some of the seeds were spread out a bit and I did see ants running around. I guess that's also how the seeds found their way under the mulch, pine straw, and leaves. Pretty cool!

Thanks!

They should be just fine. Just dont eat those seeds... ;-) Seriously, do NOT eat them!

I have not noticed the white on my seeds. What I REALLY don't like about these flowers is the thorns on the seed pods. Man are they sharp!