Learning Objective

To understand the different

ways in which plants disperse
their seeds.
What does seed dispersal mean?

Seed dispersal is when seeds are

transported from the plant to
another area in order to grow.
What do you think plants decide
to spread their seeds out over a
wider area?
If a mother plant and a baby plant are in the same
place they will compete for water, sunlight and
carbon dioxide. The baby plant is much weaker
and therefore will in most cases not receive
enough and die.
With your talk partner can
you think of any ways in
which seeds might travel
from one place to another?

We call these methods of

seed dispersal.
Animal dispersal by
hooked fruits
Some species of plant use
hooks on their fruits.
These attach themselves
to the fur of mammals or
feathers of birds and get
carried from one place to
another.
Acorns fall from
the tree and
sprout
Acorns fall from
trees and roll.
If they are not
destroyed by animals,
white oak acorns can
sprout rapidly after
falling from the
tree.
 Animal burial
Hard nuts are usually
destroyed if chewed or
eaten. However,
animals such as
squirrels may store
them to eat later and
forget to go back to
get them, giving them a
chance to germinate.
On rare occasions,
birds such as blue jays
can transport acorns
long distances.
 Soft fruit
dispersal
Fleshy fruits are
eaten by animals.

The seeds are then

dispersed after
passing through the
digestive system of
animals that have
eaten the fleshy
fruits.
 Wind dispersal
Some plants, such as the dandelion, have seeds that
act as parachutes, which are carried away by the
wind.
 Spinning
dispersal
Maple fruits are
winged, two-seeded
pods. They spin like
helicopters as they
fall from the tree,
providing a longer time
for dispersal by wind.
 Plantlet
reproduction
Spider plants,
amongst others,
send out stems
which produce
plantlets, these
baby plants then try
to root themselves.
 Carried by
water
Some plants grow
near rivers, lakes,
streams or oceans.

Their fruits/seeds
fall from the plant
and are carried away
by the water.
 Exploding
Plants
Spider plants,
amongst others,
send out stems
which produce
plantlets, these
baby plants then
try to root
themselves.
Watch seed pods exploding

http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=j2zlhQxoRZQ
 Questions to ask about your seed?

1. Is the seed coated with edible flesh?

2. Is your seed heavy or light?
3. Is your seed sticky?
4. Does your seed have hooks?
5. Is your seed found by water?
6. Does your seed have wings?
7. Does your seed roll?
8. Have you ever seen animals holding your
seed?
9. Has your plant have long stems which could
root and form new plants?
10. Does your plant explode?
Lets finish by looking at
this short video clip

http://www.bbc.co.uk/
learningzone/clips/seed-
dispersal/2258.html