• Question: How do the seeds get out

    Asked by anon-349361 to ilma on 15 Mar 2023.
    • Photo: ilma qonaah

      ilma qonaah answered on 15 Mar 2023:

      Some plants protect their seeds in fleshy fruits (like mangoes, oranges), these plants rely on humans and animals to spread their seeds. Other plants like milkweed and dandellion have really light seeds and rely on wind to spread their seeds. Coconut and lotus also have light seeds, light enough to not sink in water but too heavy to be spread by wind, so they rely on water to spread their seeds.

Comments

  • Photo: Caroline

    Caroline commented on :

    llma’s answer has a lot of examples of how plant seeds are dispersed, but I have one weird method I’d like to share. Some plants “spring load” their seed pods!

    In everlasting sweet pea plants, once the seed pod with the seeds inside finishes developing, it dries out. As it dries, elastic strain energy is built up. When the seed pod is fully ripe, it splits in half and the seeds are flung out.

    Himalayan balsam is similar, but instead the seed pods are green and drop shaped, and when disturbed they “explode” open and fire out the seeds as far as 7 meters away.