Trees drop seeds in many places, and they can be a great source of food. Some are eaten by insects, while others will find their way into bare soil or mulch with enough sunlight.
Seeds contain an embryo that develops into a plant when grown under the right conditions. They also contain an endosperm that stores food and provides nutrients in the form of starch.
What is a seed?
A seed is the fertilised, mature ovule–the result of sexual reproduction in plants (spermatophytes). Other plant groups, such as ferns and mosses, do not have seeds, but use other water-dependent means to propagate themselves.
In flowering plants, the ovule contains an embryo, food storage and a protective shell called a seed coat. These three parts work together to help a seed develop into a new plant.
Most seeds store energy in the form of starch, sugar and fat. This energy is used by the plant to grow and reproduce. When people eat bread, oats or nuts they are using this stored energy.
What does a seed do?
In order for a seed to germinate, the plant embryo inside it must be protected. That’s why a seed has a hard shell called the seed coat. The seed also contains a food storage area (called the endosperm) that can provide the new plant with enough food to get it started until the roots and leaves grow.
The seed also needs warmth, air and water to germinate. When a seed begins to sprout, it sends out roots that will search the soil for water and other resources.
Eventually, the roots will become long and strong enough to find and carry water to the plant. Then, the roots can take in the nutrients needed to grow and thrive.
How do seeds grow?
Seeds are small, single-cell organisms that contain all of the nutrients a young plant needs to get started. They also have the ability to protect and store food reserves for a long time.
To germinate, seeds need the right temperature, air, moisture, and light. It’s important to start seeds in an environment that replicates their natural habitat as much as possible.
Some seeds are better suited to starting indoors, while others prefer an outdoor spot that’s warm and free of drafts. A sunny window works well for most plants, but some need a bit of extra heat in the soil to sprout, like peppers and tomatoes.
When a seed is ready to germinate, the seed coat breaks open and the embryo begins to grow. This process triggers the growth of the first leaf-like structures, called cotyledons.
What happens inside a seed when it’s time to sprout?
All seeds have a few things they need to grow, including water and a place to live. Some seeds also have more specific requirements, like those for cold climates.
Some seeds need light to germinate, while others need darkness. This is because some plants need certain wavelengths of light to help them with photosynthesis, which is the process that turns sunlight into food for the plant.
A seed is a tiny capsule that contains an embryo and food inside a hard outer layer called the seed coat. Once the seed is safe, it slowly opens to reveal the embryo, endosperm and cotyledons (leaf-like structures) as well as the beginning of the root and shoot.
Most plants that start life from a seed begin by developing two leaf-like structures, called cotyledons. These stubby leaves are nondescript in shape and tend to be similar to what you would expect from their respective plant family. They are the first leaves to appear and are eventually replaced by true leaves as the plant grows.
