Plant Adaptations For Seed Dispersal
Unable to walk, fly, or swim, plants are faced with a problem when it comes time to sow their seeds: if all the seeds fall straight down, they will be crowded and overshadowed – literally – by their parent plant, which will get the lion’s share of sunlight and food. So plants have evolved a variety of creative adaptations to spread their seeds.
Some seeds hitch a ride on passersby using tiny hooks that
snag on fur or clothing, only to be brushed off later far
from the parent plant. Others, such as dandelion and maple
tree seeds take flight using silky parachutes or “wings”
to ride the wind. Some plants rely on animals to bury seeds
that are never retrieved. Other plants disguise their seeds
inside nutritious fruit. Animals eat the fruit and carry the
seeds to a new location, depositing them in their dung which
will act as fertilizer for the growing seedlings.
Using these many seed dispersal strategies, plants ensure
that the apple DOES fall far from the tree.
