Page 79 - The Miracle In The Seed

Seed Dispersal

Pine trees disperse
their seeds by vari-
ous means. A pine
cone stores many
winged seeds, each
in a separate com-
partment. The seeds
stay packed tightly
in closed cones for
approximately three
years. Then, they
begin to open with
the heat of the sum-
mer sun and so are
scattered through
the air.
The seeds are also
dispersed by being carried off by squirrels. Usually in summer, squirrels snap off
short twigs bearing a few fresh and closed pine cones and carry them close to
their nests. They start to strip them off from base to bottom. This they do very me-
thodically and at great speed, packing their cheek pouches with plenty of the
seeds. Then they dig a hole and bury them. If they have no time to strip all the
shells from the cones, they bury the entire cone in the hole. The seeds wait until
spring without rotting, then start to germinate. (Grains de Vie, p. 65.)

For animals like squirrels, the seeds of
plants are an important source of food. It is
God Who is aware of all things and creates
this harmonious relationship between
plants and animals.