The next time you pick a dandelion from the ground, make a wish and blow its seeds into the wind, remember this: You’re playing a vital role in how a dandelion reproduces in new habitats.
What do parachutes, velcro and sugar have in common? They are all ways that plants distribute their seeds. Who hasn’t picked a dandelion seed head and blown loose its cargo of parachutes—each bearing the load of a single seed. Beggars Ticks’ seeds will stick to your pants like Velcro on August walks in the woods.
Some grass seeds will drill themselves into the ground. Other plants such as the Spotted Touch-me-not use explosive pressure to shoot its seeds several feet from the parent plant. Helicopters mimic maple, basswood, ash and elm trees whose seeds twirl to earth.
Spitting cherry or plum seeds along the trail helps ensure future fruit for hikers and wildlife to enjoy…watch for seeds on the move this month.
Seeds at a Glance
- The Spotted Touch-me-nots that produce the most seeds are ones that never open fully and are thus self-pollinating.
- In Beggar’s Ticks, the flattened, hairy pods stick to clothing and animal fur, hence the nicknames “beggar’s lice” and “tick trefoil.”
- In the Garlic Mustard plant, seeds disperse when the siliques (pods) split at maturity in August. Seeds have a 20-month dormancy period and do not germinate until the second spring after ripening. The species reproduces readily from its numerous seeds.
Search all types of plants and their seeds in MDC’s Field Guide.
Birds, like many other animals, are also important agents in seed dispersal. They can distribute plant seeds via their bodies and beaks, their droppings, and even when they are feeding.
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