Have you seen soft and furry parachute like dandelion seeds that fly in the air? In the wind, they fly to distant places, where they fall and germinate. Thousands of plants like dandelion produce seeds with a furry crown. They float away in the air, proliferate and propagate their species when they fall on the ground.
Many dry fruits explode when they are ripe. When they snap open, their seeds shoot to a distance. The pods of these fruits have two halves that split apart when they are dry. They explode with a loud noise. Cranesbill fruits are like tiny catapults. When they dry, tension builds up inside them and part of the fruit snaps, flinging seeds to the air.
If you have spent time on grassy lands, you must have come across certain itchy seeds with little spines or hooks. They get stuck to your clothes and are also easily lodged in the fur coat of animals. Thus, they move to distant places. Bur seeds are examples.
Plants that live near rivers and oceans have fruits that can float. Our coconut palm is a perfect example of such a plant. The fruit travels wherever the water takes it. It can survive in seawater for many days. When it finds dry land, it takes roots there, and starts growing. That is why seashore plants are found in various parts of the world.
Picture Credit : Google