Seed Dispersal

How do seeds “get around”?

How is it helpful for seeds to be carried to a new place?

(Think of as many reasons as you can.)

There are several ways that seeds can “travel” to a new spot.

• Wind• Water• Gravity• Explosively• Animal help

– Eaten– Hitchhiking

Number 1-15 on a piece of paper. For each of the following pictures of seeds/fruits, describe how the seed

is most likely dispersed(wind, water, gravity, explosively, or

animal - eaten or hitchhiking).

For some, you might put two or more possibilities.

Number 1. Pretty yellow dandelions turn into these white puffballs of

seeds. How do these seeds travel?

Number 2. How about these? They are called burs (short for burdock).

(Do they remind you of velcro?)

• Number 3. Coconuts are the largest seed known. How do THEY travel?

• Number 4. On Martha’s Vineyard there are many oak trees. How do you think

their seeds (acorns) get dispersed?

Number 5. Look closely at these green seed pods. Can you see the seeds in the picture?

How do these seeds get dispersed?

Number 6. After hiking in the woods, don’t be surprised to find these “stick tights”

sticking to your clothes.

Number 7. Some seeds are hidden in sweet berries! How does this help the seed get

dispersed?

Number 8. Do you recognize this milkweed? How do these seeds get dispersed?

Number 9. Here are several seeds that all use the same dispersal technique. What is

that technique?

Number 10. These are the seeds of impatiens, also called “touch-me-nots”. The long pod is the seed pod before it is touched, and the other ones are after it has been touched! How are these seeds

dispersed?

Number 11. It might not be pleasant to do, but if you look closely at these bird droppings, you might

notice an interesting ingredient!

Number 12. These are from plants called cat-tails, which grow in swamps. Can you guess why they

are called that? How do these seeds get dispersed?

Number 13. These beautiful seeds are called sea beans. You can find them on the

beaches of many tropical islands!

Number 14. All of these seeds have one thing in common - how they are dispersed!

Number 15. This seed is over 12 inches long! How could it possibly be dispersed?