A seed is a value that produces a sequence of pseudo-random numbers or other values in software. It can be hardware inputs, software configuration information or time.
Seeds are the fertilized ovules of plants. They are a major food source for many animals and are important in plant reproduction. Seeds come in all shapes and sizes.
Definition
Seed is a mature fertilized ovule of flowering plants (angiosperms) or other gymnosperm plants that contains an embryo plant from which a new plant will develop under proper conditions. It also contains food storage tissue called endosperm and a protective seed coat. The embryo is surrounded by one or more leaf-like parts called cotyledons.
There are many different types of seeds. Each has its own shape, size and structure. The most common kinds of seeds are legumes, vegetables, grains and fruits.
In the Bible, a reference to “your seed” may refer to your descendants or it could simply mean “the people of Israel.” It is possible that Paul was using a Hebrew word (zera
When used in the verb sense, seed means to lay the foundation for something. Examples include:
Origin
Seed plants evolved in the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous. These progymnosperms were shrubs or trees with laminated leaves and bifacial vascular cambium that produced secondary xylem and phloem. They reproduced by spores but had the morphology of seeds, including the embryo and endosperm.
Fossil evidence suggests that these progymnosperms employed a form of indirect fertilization, in which wind-blown pollen entered a semi-closed structure called a megasporangium and fertilized an egg cell. A funnel-like structure, the lagenostome, then developed at the apical portion of the nucellus to trap spores and direct them to the pollen chamber.
The next stage was the development of an integument to delimit a micropyle and to enclose the ovary within the cupules, which eventually evolved into the seed coat. The embryo was also pressed against an endosperm mass to store food and aid in the absorption of moisture and nutrients upon germination. Some monocotyledons and some (endospermic) dicotyledons do not have an endosperm. They are referred to as exalbuminous seeds and include legumes like beans, peas and garden peas; corn, wheat and other cereals.
Functions
Seeds have a wide variety of functions, including dispersal, nutrition, growth and survival. These functions are linked to morphological, physiological and biochemical traits. Research into seed traits has the potential to improve long-term conservation and restoration strategies, securing provisioning of food and ecosystem services.
Seeds are a vital source of nutrients for developing plants. They are stored within the seed coat or endosperm, a food reserve that provides energy for the embryo during its early stages of development (germination). Some seeds do not contain an endosperm, such as dicots like cotton and soybeans, and instead use their cotyledons to provide nourishment.
Seeds are also designed to attract and be dispersed by animal or water dispersers, or to land in locations with conditions for successful establishment. For example, some seeds have appendages that entice animals to eat them; others have hooks, barbs or sticky hairs to help them stick to surfaces and be carried away by wind.
Common Names
Seed companies often use common names in their marketing of nonhybrid varieties. This is fine, provided that they are truthful and do not misrepresent a particular seed lot in a misleading way. A good rule of thumb is to use a common name that is familiar to consumers.
In the case of hybrids, the seed producer must always provide the proper Latin name, even if they use a common name in their marketing. This is required by law.
A seed’s Latin name usually consists of two parts: the genus and the species. The genus is an umbrella name that groups together plants that are similar and closely related to one another. The species is a more narrow grouping that describes a particular plant or feature. For example, a specific variety of sage may have the species name Salvia officinalis, which identifies its herbal value. Clover evokes the image of four-leafed clover for many people, while calendula is an attractive flower that comes in a kaleidoscope of colors.