Page 10 - Future Stars Science Explorer-5

structures. The seeds get scattered by the wind. For
example, dandelion and sycamore fruits are light and
have extensions that act as parachutes or wings to

catch the wind. The light and hairy cotton seed also
gets dispersed by wind.

Cotton seed
By Water

Seeds of plants growing in or near water have spongy or fibrous outer coat

which help them in floating. They are dispersed by water to distant places.
Coconut and lotus are such plants.

The Coconut fruit has a thick fibrous coat. It

floats in water and is carried away to far-off
places. Its outer coat decays in water, and

seed is exposed. Coconut fruit Lotus Seed pod

The Lotus or water lily, has a spongy fruit that can float in water. Its outer
spongy coat decays in water and seed comes out.

By Animal

Human beings and animals eat fruits and drop seeds

like cherries and mangoes, and throw away their
seeds. Some seeds have hooks or spines that get stuck

to the hairy skin of animals and are carried away.
Birds swallow some seeds, which come out in their

droppings. Some seeds are
dispersed by birds.
By Explosion (self-Dispersal)

Some fruits and vegetables burst open or explode when

they become over ripe or dry. The seeds get thrown off and
are scattered away from the mother plant. The dispersal of

seeds from plant like pea, bean, geranium, gorse pod, and
Pea
balsam takes place by explosion.

Other Ways of Growing Plants

Some plants can be grown without seeds. They can grow from their body

10 Science-5