Sweet Bay Red Hots: Hearts on a String

 

The fruit in this sweet bay magnolia was striking in the glossy, green leaves.

It was a large tree at the visitor's center at the St.Marks Wildlife Refuge and dropping its red pieces all over the deck. It looked like red hot candy hearts.

B discovered that each little red "bean" was held in place by a single silk thread.

This silk thread could be pulled  2 or more inches before it broke. It was surprisingly strong.

We saw these red "beans" floating in the pond and also resting on the bottom of the pond. However, there were no other bays growing around the pond. The museum clerk said that the squirrels love them.