Ancient Seeds Sprout After Centuries in Toronto Excavation, Revealing Lost Flora

• Hundreds of years old seeds found during excavation in Toronto's Port Lands area sprouted upon exposure to moisture.
• The seeds, buried since the early 1900s from Ashbridge's Bay Marsh, included species like cattails and bulrushes not found in Toronto today.
• Scientists from the University of Toronto identified seeds dating back to the 1800s, with one even from 1500 AD.
• Preserved in oxygen-deprived, waterlogged soil, the seeds germinated naturally when excavated and exposed to sunlight and rain.
• The sprouted plants are now being used to restore biodiversity in the Port Lands as part of the Don River restoration project.