SURVIVAL OF PLANTS

•Seed and fruit dispersal•Various ways plants disperse their seeds and fruits

Seed and Fruit Dispersal

• Plants cannot move freely

• Need to disperse seeds and fruits away from parent plants

• Scattering far away from parent plants

Advantages of Seed and Fruit Dispersal

Reduces competition

Reduces overcrowding

Plants grow healthily

New localities

Dispersal Methods

• Seeds and fruits have special characteristics which help dispersal agent to disperse the seeds.

• Seeds and fruits can be dispersed by

Dispersal Agent - WaterCharacteristics :

• Plants live near seas, rivers and marshes

• Fruit has waxy and waterproof coverings – prevent water from entering the fruits

• Air spaces – enable fruits to float in water

• Husk – can trap air

Dispersal Agent - Water

Pong-pong Pinang fruit

Coconut Lotus

Dispersal Agent - WindCharacteristics :

• Small

• Light

• Dry

• Wing-like structure

• Fine hairs

Dispersal Agent - Wind

Shorea Angsana

Coconut Dandelion

Dispersal Agent - Animal*Eat the fruits but discard the seeds*

Characteristics :

• Big seeds

• Brightly coloured fruit

• Fragrant

• Fleshy friuts

• Edible

Dispersal Agent - Animal*Eat the fruits as well as seeds and pass out the seeds in

the faeces*

Characteristics :

• Small hard seeds

• Brightly coloured fruit

• Fragrant

• Fleshy fruits

• Edible

Dispersal Agent - Animal*Transport fruits that stick to the body of the animals*

Characteristics :

• Dry

• Have hooks

• Light

• Have spines

• Not edible

Dispersal Method- Explosive Mechanism

Characteristics :

• Dry and hard when ripe

• When matured, the fruit wall will split and curl suddenly, throwing the seeds out.

Dispersal Method – Explosive Mechanism

Balsam

Ladies’ finger (okra) Flame of the forest

Rubber seed

• The main function of seeds is to ensure that the plant species continues to exist

• The dispersal of seeds and fruits ensures the survival of the species

QUIZmimosa

balsam

meranti

papaya

Love grass

Water-melon

Rubber seedpinang

orchid

lotus durian lallang

angsana dandelion coconut Guava

urena Pong-pong Okra Flame of the forest