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Seeds need a good place to grow. If they fall too close to the plant that
made them, they may not get enough sun or water. So how do they get to a
good spot on the ground?
Some seeds travel a long way from where they start. In fact, some move
miles away. How do they do it? They fly, float, or hitchhike.
Flying Seeds
Some seeds have wings like an airplane's. They glide through the air. The
seed of an Asian climbing gourd has long wings. It glides in large, wide circles.
Other seeds fly like a helicopter or drift like a parachute.
Floating Seeds
Some seeds float on water. A coconut palm tree may drop its seed into the
ocean. The ocean current can carry it a long way. Sometimes the seed will
travel 1,000 miles before it reaches dry land.
Hitchhiking Seeds
Some seeds travel by animals. Cocklebur plants make seeds covered with
little hooks. These hooks grab onto the fur of passing animals. The seeds stay
on an animal until they are scratched or pulled off. They might land far away
from where they started.
Seeds can also travel inside animals. Seeds that animals eat end up in
animal droppings. The seeds grow wherever the droppings land.
Plants create seeds that grow into new plants. But seeds need a good
place to grow. They can fly, float, or hitchhike to get there. It's amazing how
seeds can really get around!