Fruit and seed traits of the elephant-dispersed African savanna plant Balanites maughamii

摘要: Balanites maughamii appears to be an obligate elephant-dispersed species. Its fruits are strongly scented and produce a large range of volatiles, particularly aliphatic acids such as hexanoic isovaleric acid. The seed coat can resist compression force >1.5 kN. Seeds removed from the coat, those compressed seeds or elephant dung, have better germination than enclosed by undamaged seed-coats, which largely failed germinate over 2-mo period. Mastication elephants may necessary split allow germinant emerge coat. We identify four traits fruits; they dull-coloured, presented on ground, exceptionally strong coats.