SEED DISPERSAL

METHODS OF SEED DISPERSAL

DISPERSAL BY WIND:

Seeds and Fruits which are very light, tiny and dry can be dispersed by wind. Usually these seeds or fruits possess wings or hair to float/glide through air. Eg.

DISPERSAL BY WATER

· Many aquatic and some terrestrial plants use seed dispersal through water.

· Seeds can travel for extremely long distances, depending on the specific mode of water dispersal.

· This especially applies to fruits which are waterproof and float.

· Mangrove trees grow directly out of the water; when their seeds ripe, they fall from the tree and grow roots as soon as they touch any kind of soil.

· Other Examples are coconut, Lotus, Hydrilla.

WATER LILY PALM

DISPERSAL BY ANIMALS

· Animals can disperse plant seeds. Seeds that have sticky mucus, or a variety of hooks, spines usually disperse through this process.

· The stiff hair on the seeds sticks to animal fur.

· The small hooks on the surface of a bur enable attachment to animal fur for dispersion.

· Some Animals consume fruits and the undigested seeds are passed out along with the waste the body throws out.

DISPERSAL BY EXPLOSION

· In certain plants the fruit burst or explode.

· Eg. Cucumber, peas, beans and other legumes.