partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata

Partridge pea has very hard little seeds that will not germinate well in your garden. First the hard coats need to be weakened. You can grind them or scratch them or nick them. But how does nature do that? When asked the other day, I too off-handedly said in bird's craws. That will do the trick. But a much more complete answer involves mechanics, temperature and or chemistry. Erosion, freezing, fire, prolonged soaking and passing through animals all play roles for these and many other seeds. Partridge pea is a plant of open areas in AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, and WV. Lenawee Co MI, 7/22/10.