Seeds travel many ways Wind Animals Water

Gliders Gliders include seeds with 2 lateral wings that resemble the wings of an airplane. They become airborne when released from their fruit and sail through the air like a true glider.

Parachutes Parachutes include seeds or achenes (one-seeded fruits) with an umbrella- like crown of very small branched hairs at the top. The slightest gust of wind catches the crown of fluffy seeds, raising and propelling the seed into the air like a parachute.

Helicopters Helicopters (also called Whirlybirds) include seeds with a rigid wing at one end. The wing typically looks like a propeller or fan blade, causing the seed to spin as it falls. Depending on the wind velocity and distance above the ground, helicopter seeds can be carried considerable distances away from the parent plant.

Spinners Flutterer/spinners include seeds with a papery wing around the entire seed or at each end. When released from their seed capsules they flutter or spin through the air. Whether they spin or merely flutter depends on the size, shape and pitch of the wings, and the wind velocity. This method of wind dispersal is found in numerous species of flowering plants in many different plant families.

Cottony seeds Cottony seeds and fruits include seeds and minute seed capsules with a tuft of cottony hairs at one end, or seeds embedded in a cottony mass. One fuzzy brown cattail spike may contain a million tiny seeds. Each seed has a tuft of silky white hairs and is small enough to pass through the "eye" of an ordinary sewing needle.

Animals and seeds Animals can transport seeds in two ways: The seed gets stuck on the animal in the fur, feathers or claws. When the animal moves to another place, the seed is transported. Often these seeds have ‘hooks”. A seed is transported when an animal eats the seed. Afterwards, the seed is excreted. Many seeds need to be eaten in order to start the growing process.

Water and Seeds Some seeds are transported by water. These plants usually grow near water, and when the seed drops, it travels by water to another location. Coconuts are an example of this.