Seeds can travel — Biology, 4–6 years
Plants spread their seeds to new places, using wind, water, animals or people, so new plants can grow away from the parent plant.
Seeds move to new places
A seed is a tiny beginning of a new plant, but it cannot walk by itself. Wind can carry a light seed, water can float one, and an animal can carry a sticky seed on its fur. A seed that lands in a suitable place may grow into a new plant.
Why seeds spread
If every new plant grew directly beside its parent, they would crowd one another and compete for light, water and space. Moving seeds gives some a chance to find a clearer place. People discovered this by noticing plants appearing far from older plants and by watching how seeds travelled.
A dandelion seed
Look at a dandelion with 20 fluffy seeds. First, a breeze catches one seed’s little parachute. Next, the seed floats 3 metres away from the flower. Finally, it lands on bare soil. If it gets water and light, that one travelling seed may start a new dandelion plant.
Every seed does not grow
It is easy to think that a seed will grow wherever it lands, because seeds look ready to become plants. But a seed may land on a stone, in deep water or where there is too little light. The mistake is reasonable: we notice the successful plants, not the many seeds that fail.
Growing and caring for plants
Gardeners collect seeds, plant them in soil and sometimes carry them to a new place. They may also leave flowers for birds and insects, which can move seeds around. Understanding seed travel helps people grow plants without putting every seed in the same crowded spot.
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