Seed Dispersal

Water

Some fruits are water proof and can float. Coconuts are a good example.

Bursting

These fruits suddenly burst open throwing the seeds in all directions such as peas, laburnum or gorse.

Catching the lift

Some fruits have little tiny hooks on them such as burdocks and cleavers. These little hooks catch on passing animal if they brush against the plants and get carried away.

Drop and roll

The casing of the fruits from trees such as horse chesnuts (conkers) split when they land on the ground. The fruit then rolls away from the tree.

Shakers

Poppy seed heads, when dried by the sun, have little holes all around their top(like a pepper shaker). These shake when it's windy and the tiny seeds are thrown out of the shaker through the holes.

Wind

Some fruits are adapted to catching the wind and being blown away such as sycamore 'helicopters' or dandelion 'clocks'.

Some fruits are adapted to catching the wind and being blown away such as sycamore 'helicopters' or dandelion 'clocks'.

Subtopic

Animal food

Lots of fruits are really tasty to animals ( and humans!) such as blachberries, apples and gooseberries. When an animal eats these fruits the little seeds are not digested pass through the animals, unharmed and surrounded by fertiliser.

Maya Khan & Aziq Furqan