Seed Dispersal

How do seeds “get around”?

There are several ways that seeds can
“travel” to a new spot.

• Wind
• Water
• Gravity
• Explosively
• Animal help
– Eaten
– Hitchhiking
 Number 1-15 on a piece of paper.
For each of the following pictures of
seeds/fruits, describe how the seed
is most likely dispersed
(wind, water, gravity, explosively, or
animal - eaten or hitchhiking).

For some, you might put two or

more possibilities.
Number 1. Pretty yellow dandelions
turn into these white puffballs of
seeds. How do these seeds travel?
Number 2. How about these? They are
called burs (short for burdock).
(Do they remind you of velcro?)
• Number 3. Coconuts are the largest
seed known. How do THEY travel?
• Number 4. On Martha’s Vineyard there
are many oak trees. How do you think
their seeds (acorns) get dispersed?
Number 5. Look closely at these green seed
pods. Can you see the seeds in the picture?
How do these seeds get dispersed?
Number 6. After hiking in the woods, don’t
be surprised to find these “stick tights”
sticking to your clothes.
Number 7. Some seeds are hidden in sweet
berries! How does this help the seed get
dispersed?
Number 8. Do you recognize this milkweed?
How do these seeds get dispersed?
Number 9. Here are several seeds that all
use the same dispersal technique. What is
that technique?
Number 10. These are the seeds of impatiens, also
called “touch-me-nots”. The long pod is the seed
pod before it is touched, and the other ones are
after it has been touched! How are these seeds
dispersed?
 Number 11. It might not be pleasant to do, but if
you look closely at these bird droppings, you might
notice an interesting ingredient!
 Number 12. These are from plants called cat-tails,
which grow in swamps. Can you guess why they
are called that? How do these seeds get dispersed?
 Number 13. These beautiful seeds are
called sea beans. You can find them on the
beaches of many tropical islands!
 Number 14. All of these seeds have one
thing in common - how they are dispersed!
 Number 15. This seed is over 12 inches
long! How could it possibly be dispersed?