Dispersal of Seeds

Dispersal of Seeds

Dispersal of Seeds

To avoid growing very close to each other, plants take help of agents like wind, water or animals to scatter their seeds. These agents carry the seeds

and scatter them away from the parent plant.

Dispersal AgentsDispersal of

Seeds

The process by which the seeds are scattered from the parent plant is called dispersal. The process of dispersal is carried out by agents like

wind, water, animals and explosion.

Dispersal of Seeds

Dispersal of Seeds

In order to facilitate dispersal by different agents, many seeds and fruit have special features.

Dispersal by WindDispersal of

Seeds

Wind – The seeds of plants like cotton, sycamore and dandelion are very light and have either wings or hair on them. These features enable them to be easily

carried away by wind.

Dispersal by WindDispersal of

Seeds

Wind – The seeds of plants like cotton, sycamore and dandelion are very light and have either wings or hair on them. These features enable them to be easily

carried away by wind.

Dispersal by Water

Dispersal of Seeds

Water – The seeds or fruit of plants growing in water are either spongy or fibrous. This enables them to float on water. Water then carries them to different places. For example,

coconut and lotus fruit and seeds of mangrove plants are carried away by water.

Dispersal by Animals

Dispersal of Seeds

Animals – Human beings and animals eat fleshy fruits like apples, mangoes, etc., and throw away their seeds in different places. These germinate into new plants on getting appropriate condition of growth. Similarly, birds eat fruit and swallow their seeds. The undigested seeds

then come out as it is in their faeces and germinate into new plants.

Dispersal by Animals

Dispersal of Seeds

Some seeds have sticky hair, bristles, hooks or barbs. These get transported by sticking to the fur of the animals or even to the clothes of human beings.

Dispersal by Explosion

Dispersal of Seeds

Explosion – Some fruits scatter their seeds by exploding the seedpods. When the seeds are ripe and the pods have dried, it bursts open and then the seeds are

scattered. For example, pods of squirting cucumber spread their seeds by explosion.

This presentation is a result of my experiences while I was helping out my son with his school assignments and project work. I am happy to share this with other students and their parents. Hope you find this informative and useful. Thank you.

- Prashant Mahajan -

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