Patrick
Hmm. Perhaps. I was under the impression that the seed coat has some sort
of surface that, upon being moistened, is merely adhesive. I don't know if
the seed coat actually exudes a moist mucous or substance. Certainly, if the
seeds actually release some chemicals which act as an attractant to
inverts, and then capture them, I would be impressed.
What would really be compelling evidence is proof that this mechanism is
being used by _Capsella bursa-pastoris_ in the field. Sure, you can maybe get
them to do this in contrived circumstances, but do the plants actually do it
when not sitting in the lab?
Just a question...when a bug is caught in the mucous surround these seeds
and in coated and trapped, would you say it has been....En-Capsella-ted?
:)
B