SEED DISPERSAL

Since plants do not move from place to place, they have developed
ways to make certain that their seeds are taken well away from them; this is
called seed dispersal. Seed dispersal is important because if the seeds were
to develop close to the parent plant, the young plants would not receive
enough sunlight to grow. If plants are too close together they compete for
light, water and minerals. It is much better if the seeds develop (germinate) in
another area. Different plants have developed different ways to disperse their
seeds. Some use animals, some use the wind and others literally explode,
throwing their seeds away from them.

The spreading around of plant seeds is commonly referred to as dispersal.

Modes of Seed Dispersal:

There are a number of modes or ways by which seeds may be dispersed,

these include:

1. Wind dispersal
2. Water dispersal
3. Animal dispersal
4. Mechanical dispersal

WIND DISPERSAL

Plants using the wind to disperse their seeds may exhibit the following
characteristics:

 Very light seeds which the wind can easily carry, as in many grasses
like "Fowl foot" grass.
 Seeds covered in feathery materials, that act like parachutes when
caught in the wind, as in the Oleander.
  Seeds that look and act like helicopter rotors, which may spin and fly
in the wind, the Mahogany being a local example.
 Seeds that flutter or spin in the wind

WATER DISPERSAL

Plants using water to disperse their seeds may exhibit the following
characteristics:

 A tendency to grow near the sea or rivers

 Seeds or fruit that can float, allowing them to be carried away from the
mother plant by water.
ANIMAL DISPERSAL

Plants using animals to disperse their fruit may exhibit the following
characteristics:

 Fleshy edible fruit, where the flesh is consumed and the seed passed
out or discarded at another location
 Sticky or clinging fruit or seeds which attached themselves to passing
animals, to be dislodged at another location
MECHANICAL DISPERSAL

Mechanical dispersal is sometimes also referred to as self-dispersal.

Plants that use mechanical means to disperse their seeds may exhibit the
following characteristics:

 Fruit that split or shatter suddenly, throwing their seeds away from the
mother plant.