SEEDS:
Plants depend on animals to spread their seeds out in the world!
PLANTS
ANIMALS
What’s the difference between...
and
PLANTS
ANIMALS
Can make their own food
Can’t make their own food
Can’t really go anywhere
Can move around
When PLANTS were new, they didn’t have seeds, and they had a problem
“All my babies are growing right next to me and they’re taking all the water and nutrients and sunlight and they’re driving me nuts!!!”
- Plants 250 million years ago
PLANTS
are smart though!
I can’t move, but animals can - I bet I could trick animals into spreading my seeds out in the world!
Angiosperms first develop 100-150 million years ago
PLANTS
are smart though!
They started putting their seeds in FRUITS that animals need for energy
PLANTS
are smart though!
They also made seeds that are good at HITCHHIKING on animal fur!
A lot of trees figured out:
“I can get squirrel to help me spread my seeds!”
Some other plants had the same ideas...
Western Hazelnut
In the winter, Hazelnut makes TINY MAGENTA FLOWERS
and grows catkins full of pollen to spread in the WIND.
The pollinated magenta flowers turn into HAZELNUTS over the summer.
Oregon White Oak
In the spring, Oregon White Oak makes TINY clusters of FLOWERS
and grows catkins full of pollen to spread in the WIND.
The pollinated flowers turn into ACORNS over the summer.
Douglas Fir
In the spring, Douglas Fir grows little cones
and SOME are full of pollen to spread in the WIND.
The pollinated cones grow into hard, woody Douglas Fir Cones over the summer.
Squirrels + Samaras
Oregon Ash
In the spring, Oregon Ash grows TINY yellow flowers
Trees with male flowers make pollen for other trees with female flowers
The pollinated flowers grow into SAMARAS over the summer.
Big Leaf Maple
In the spring, BIG LEAF MAPLE grows BUNCHES of yellow flowers
The pollinated flowers grow into SAMARAS over the summer.
You can throw them and they will spin like helicopters!
Lots of SHRUBS figured out:
“I can get birds to help me spread my seeds!”
Some other plants had the same ideas...
Snowberry
In the spring, snowberry makes WHITE AND PINK FLOWERS
Bees love to visit them for nectar and they get pollinated!
The pollinated flowers turn into SNOWBERRIES over the summer.
WINTER