PLANTS MUST DISPERSE THEIR SEEDS 8I
8o YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE 1961 may resist germination for long periods. Some species produce pods in which one segment remains indéhiscent— closed—and the seed within it remains Plants Must Disperse dormant for a long time, as in cockle- bur (Xanthium), for example. Their Seeds THE DISPERSAL of seeds is determined largely by the size, shape, and char- acter of the seedcoat or the persisting PAUL G. RUSSELL AND ALBINA F. MUSIL structures of the fruit as, for example, the awns of grasses; the ''fuzz" of cot- ton; spines and bristles of various NOT ALL SEEDS survive the struggle for forms; "wings" on the seeds of certain existence. Any marked change in trees; plumes of dandelion and thistle; environment, moisture, temperature, the forceful opening of the seed pod, amount of sunlight, or soil composition as in witch-hazel {Hamamelis virginica) ; may create conditions under which and a sticky surface when wet. seeds of certain plants cannot germi- Such seeds are dispersed readily by nate. Plants therefore must disperse such, natural means as wind, water, their seeds in such a manner and animals, and birds. in such quantity that some, at least, When structures, such as awns and will survive so that the species may pubescence, have been removed in the continue. process of harvesting and cleaning of Devices for survival among plants crop seeds, such seeds may become are many. widely distributed in any of several The dormant embryonic plant with- ways—with crop seeds, feeds (hay and in the seed of most kinds of plants is grain), common carriers (trucks, auto- protected by a seedcoat until condi- mobiles, wagons, airplanes), farm im- tions are favorable for new grow^th to plements, ships, birds, and insects.
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