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Plants have evolved a variety of ways to distribute their seeds. Some simply drop to the ground, others blow through the air on tiny, delicate "wings", others are moved through water, and still others are encased in fruits and have to survive a trip through an animal's digestive system before they sprout. |
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It is important for seeds to be moved a good
distance away from their parent plant, for it is almost impossible for a new seedling to grow directly under an older, established plant.
Above: Small flower seeds, like these feathery-looking dandelion seeds, are consumed by insects such as ants. Below: Berries ripen in the summer and fall, and while they are most commonly eaten by birds, bears also feed on them. Photos by Maya Walters |
| If a large quantity of seeds fall in one location instead of being spread around, there is a greater chance of attracting "seed predators", or mammals that consume the entire seed, thereby preventing it from sprouting. |
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