Seeds |
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Wind dispersalTo catch air currents and ride on the wind, wind-dispersed seeds can either be very light, such as dustlike orchid seeds, or have special shapes, such as parachutes, flutterers, helicoptors, cotton seeds, etc. |
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 Use this device you can see how the wind-dispersal seeds work. |
| Parachutes: these seeds or single-seeded fruits (achenes) are attached to umbrella-like hair clusters at the top. The lightweight seeds can be dispersed by wind over long distances. | |
Each individual dandelion seed is attached to a parachute. (Taraxacum officinale, Asteraceae) |
 The seed pod of a starfish flower. (Stapelia, Apocynaceae) |
| Helicoptors: these seeds have a rigid wing on one side. | |
 The winged seeds (enlarged) from a pine cone. (Pine, Pinaceae) |
 Two winged seeds of a Japanese maple are joined at the base. (Acer palmatum, Aceraceae) |
| Flutterers: these seeds have papery wings on two sides or surrounding them. | |
 A leathery seed pod with a winged seeds showing. (Jacaranda, Bignoniaceae) |
 Seeds of the Golden Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia chrysotricha, Bignoniaceae) |
| Cotton seeds: these seeds are wrapped in cottonlike hairs. | |
 Cotton seeds from an exploded Floss Silk Tree seed pod. (Chorisia speciosa, Bombacaceae) |
 The puffy seeds of a cattail. (Typha, Typhaceae) |
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