Page 252 - New Medley 5 Semester 1

Teacher wants students to know about dispersal of seeds.

A plant makes a large number of seeds. If all the seeds fall and germinate near the
parent plant, they would not get good amount of air, water and warmth for their
growth. So, they need to grow away from the parent plant.

How do seeds reach
far off places? Wind, water and animals
carry seeds or the fruits
containing seeds away
from parent plant. They
help in scattering of seeds.
The scattering of seeds away
from parent plant to far off
places by some agent is
called dispersal of seeds.

The seeds which are light and hairy are carried away by wind. The
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seeds of cotton, madar, dandelion and hiptage are dispersed by wind.

The seeds of plants which grow near water or in water are dispersed by
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water. The spongy structure of lotus fruit and fibrous covering of coconut
are special features and make them light. They help the seeds float on water
and move long distances.

Animals and human beings eat mangoes, cherries, apples, plums, oranges,
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etc. and throw their seeds here and there.

The seeds of burdock and cocklebur have hooks on them. They
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get stuck to the skin or fur of animals and clothes of people
and are carried away.

Birds eat fruits of peepal, fig, etc. Their seeds come out unchanged in their droppings and
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grow into new plants where they fall.
Seeds
The seeds of pea are placed in a structure called pod. When the pod Pod
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becomes dry, it bursts open or explodes, scattering the seeds all around.

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