Seed Dispersal in Flowering Plants
WALT: explore different types
of seed dispersal
Can you remember the different
stages of a flowering plant life
cycle from last week?
Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant
The life cycle of a flowering plant shows the changes that happen
to the plant over the course of its lifetime.
The main stages of the life cycle of a flowering plant are:
Watch the video below to for a brief introduction:
1
Germination
2
Growing and
flowering
3
Pollination
4
Fertilisation
and seed
formation
5
Seed
dispersal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zpxnyrd/articles/z2vdj
xs
After pollination has taken place, the flower of a
plant will be full of seeds. Its next step is to get rid
of these seeds to ensure its survival. In order to get
the best chance of survival for future plants, the
seeds must be dispersed.
What do you think ‘seed dispersal’ means?
Why do you think the seeds need to be dispersed?
Plants are rooted to the ground so they need a way to
disperse their seeds away from themselves. In other words,
they want their seeds to grow new plants in as many different
places as possible to ensure that species of plant will survive.
Seed dispersal is vital for survival because if a plant can only
drop it`s seeds around where it’s growing and a threat arrives
then the new plants might not survive.
Seed dispersal also makes sure that one area doesn’t become
overcrowded.
Almost all seeds are made inside fruits. These fruits provide
protection and nutrients to the seeds while they are
developing.
How do flowering plants disperse
their seeds? Let’s take a look at
seed dispersal in a bit more
detail…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topi
cs/zxfrwmn/articles/z28dpbk
Wind
Sycamore ‘helicopters’ and dandelion ‘clocks’ both have
fruits which have adapted to use the wind to carry the
seeds away when the seeds are ready.
Photos courtesy of @Doug88888, ian boyd (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Bursting
Photos courtesy of Ben Grader(@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Some plants have pods full of seeds which will burst,
showering the ground with seeds, like the Himalayan
Balsam seed. Peas are another example of a plant bursting
open to disperse its seeds.
Shakers
Photos courtesy of janerc (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Some plants rely on being shaken to disperse their seeds. When
poppies have produced their seeds and have finished flowering all
that is left is a long stem with a dried seed pod. These pods have
small holes at the top and rely on wind to shake them to scatter
the seeds. This method doesn’t send the seeds very far. Yucca
Campestris seeds also need to be shaken.
Yucca Campestris seeds
Poppy seeds
Water
Photos courtesy of egonwegh(@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Some plants rely on water to disperse their fruits. These will
either grow on the water or by the side of water.
Water lilies live on the water so they use the water to
disperse their seeds. They make very light seeds which will
float away on the water for a while, then sink to the bottom
of a pond to grow a new lily.
Lily seeds
Water lily
Photos courtesy of Dave_A_2007(@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Palm tree seeds are very light which
helps them float and grow another
palm tree elsewhere. Palm trees that
grow by the oceans drop their seeds
which can be swept great distances by
the ocean’s currents. Coconuts are
well known travellers.
Willow
tree
seeds
Palm tree seeds
Willow and silver birch trees
often grow near water.
Their seeds are very light
which enables them to float
away on water (the silver
birch seed is also fluffy which
helps them to be dispersed by
the wind too).
Photos courtesy of GanMed64s (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Catching a Ride
Some plants such as cockleburs have developed to grow tiny
hooks on their fruits which hook on to animals (or people)
that pass by the plant. Eventually they will drop off on to
the ground.
This dog has been covered in burs.
Burdock seeds
Seeds as Food
Some plants make tasty fruits. This is to encourage animals
(and people!) to eat the fruits. The seeds then pass through
the animal unharmed and out the other end with a ready
supply of fertiliser (not tasty in the slightest…quite the
opposite). This method ensures the seed is given nutrients to
help it grow.
What types of fruits can you
think of that are eaten by
animals and people with
seeds inside?
Drop and Roll!
Some fruits, such as horse chestnuts, have a casing round
them which cracks open when it hits the ground. The fruit
inside then rolls away from the tree. You can tell which
horse chestnuts in the trees are ripe because their casings
have already begun to split open before they drop.
Main Task
You may need to research
each seed type on the internet
to help you decide which
category they belong to.
Write the following headings in your
book and then write/sort the different
plants into the write groups based on
how they disperse their seeds.
Explore the fascinating world of seed dispersal in flowering plants, from wind dispersal to bursting pods and shaking mechanisms. Discover the various methods plants use to spread their seeds and ensure their survival. Dive into the stages of a flowering plant's life cycle and learn how germination, pollination, and seed formation play crucial roles in their propagation. Enhance your knowledge with insightful images and informative resources provided in this engaging content.
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Presentation Transcript
WALT: explore different types of seed dispersal
Can you remember the different stages of a flowering plant life cycle from last week?
Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant The life cycle of a flowering plant shows the changes that happen to the plant over the course of its lifetime. The main stages of the life cycle of a flowering plant are: 1 2 3 4 5 Germination Growing and flowering Pollination Fertilisation and seed formation Seed dispersal Watch the video below to for a brief introduction: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zpxnyrd/articles/z2vdj xs
How do flowering plants disperse their seeds? Let s take a look at seed dispersal in a bit more detail
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topi cs/zxfrwmn/articles/z28dpbk
Wind Sycamore helicopters and dandelion clocks both have fruits which have adapted to use the wind to carry the seeds away when the seeds are ready. Photos courtesy of @Doug88888, ian boyd (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Bursting Some plants have pods full of seeds which will burst, showering the ground with seeds, like the Himalayan Balsam seed. Peas are another example of a plant bursting open to disperse its seeds. Photos courtesy of Ben Grader(@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Shakers Some plants rely on being shaken to disperse their seeds. When poppies have produced their seeds and have finished flowering all that is left is a long stem with a dried seed pod. These pods have small holes at the top and rely on wind to shake them to scatter the seeds. This method doesn t send the seeds very far. Yucca Campestris seeds also need to be shaken. Yucca Campestris seeds Poppy seeds Photos courtesy of janerc (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Water Some plants rely on water to disperse their fruits. These will either grow on the water or by the side of water. Water lilies live on the water so they use the water to disperse their seeds. They make very light seeds which will float away on the water for a while, then sink to the bottom of a pond to grow a new lily. Lily seeds Water lily Photos courtesy of egonwegh(@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Palm tree seeds are very light which helps them float and grow another palm tree elsewhere. Palm trees that grow by the oceans drop their seeds which can be swept great distances by the ocean s currents. Coconuts are well known travellers. Palm tree seeds Willow and silver birch trees often grow near water. Their seeds are very light which enables them to float away on water (the silver birch seed is also fluffy which helps them to be dispersed by the wind too). Willow tree seeds Photos courtesy of Dave_A_2007(@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Catching a Ride Some plants such as cockleburs have developed to grow tiny hooks on their fruits which hook on to animals (or people) that pass by the plant. Eventually they will drop off on to the ground. Burdock seeds This dog has been covered in burs. Photos courtesy of GanMed64s (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution
Seeds as Food Some plants make tasty fruits. This is to encourage animals (and people!) to eat the fruits. The seeds then pass through the animal unharmed and out the other end with a ready supply of fertiliser (not tasty in the slightest quite the opposite). This method ensures the seed is given nutrients to help it grow. What types of fruits can you think of that are eaten by animals and people with seeds inside?
Drop and Roll! Some fruits, such as horse chestnuts, have a casing round them which cracks open when it hits the ground. The fruit inside then rolls away from the tree. You can tell which horse chestnuts in the trees are ripe because their casings have already begun to split open before they drop.
Main Task Write the following headings in your book and then write/sort the different plants into the write groups based on how they disperse their seeds. You may need to research each seed type on the internet to help you decide which category they belong to.
