How do flowers disperse seeds?
Do you know about this? The content of planting green plants and flowers, including how flowers disperse seeds and understanding the plant dispersal methods, is as follows:
Dispersed by wind: Some plant seed coats are covered with soft hair and will be carried away and dispersed by the wind.
Dispersed by water: These seeds will float on the water surface and be dispersed through streams.
Mechanical, projectile dispersal: When the fruit of silicles and follicles matures, it will crack open and shoot the seeds out.
Dispersed by birds or other animals: These are all fleshy fruits, birds or other animals will eat the seeds, and disperse them through feces.
Self-sowing: The fruit matures and falls to the ground due to gravity for dispersal.
I. Dispersed by wind
Plants may disperse seeds through the wind, such as willows, poplars, and dandelions. Their seed coats are covered with soft hair, some with wings, which are structures adapted to wind dispersal. In addition, some seeds are very small and can be carried away by the wind, such as the seeds of orchids. The achene of dandelion will spread its pappus when mature, like a parachute floating in the wind, dispersing the seeds to distant places.
II. Dispersed by water
Seeds dispersed by water have a waxy surface that does not adhere to water, like lotus. The seeds are lighter than water and will float on the surface, dispersed by streams. The seed coat of these plants is rich in fibrous material, which does not rot even after long-term immersion in water. Common plants that disperse seeds by water include banyan, terminalia, and nelumbo.
III. Mechanical, projectile dispersal
When the fruit of silicles and follicles matures, it will crack open and shoot the seeds out due to the force generated during the opening. For example, the fruit of impatiens and pods will disperse the seeds in all directions after maturity. However, the distance of this kind of dispersal is limited, but some self-dispersed seeds that fall may still undergo secondary dispersal, possibly through birds, animals, ants, etc.
IV. Dispersed by birds or other animals
Plant seeds dispersed by birds are usually fleshy fruits, such as cherries, wild grapes, and wild ginseng. Birds or other animals will eat the seeds, but they cannot digest them and will be excreted in the feces, thus dispersing them in all directions. Additionally, squirrels will store food for the winter and may carry seeds like pine nuts to other places.
V. Self-sowing
Self-sowing is the dispersal through the plant itself, without relying on other media. The fruit or seed has a certain weight, and after maturity, the fruit or seed will fall to the ground due to gravity, such as apples and pears. In addition, some plant seeds, after maturing, will separate from the stem and root and roll away, dropping seeds along the way.
The above introduction on how flowers disperse seeds and understanding plant dispersal methods is for everyone to learn and understand!