Seed

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Seed

Seed (/si:d/), from the Old English sǣd, is a fertilized ovule containing the plant embryo. It is the primary means by which many plant species reproduce.

Definition

A seed is a mature ovule that contains an embryo, a tiny immature plant that will grow and develop into the adult plant if proper conditions are met. Seeds also contain food storage tissues (endosperm) that provide nutrients to the developing plant. The whole seed is enclosed in a seed coat, which protects the embryo.

Structure

Seeds have three main parts: the embryo, the endosperm, and the seed coat. The embryo is the young multicellular organism before it emerges from the seed. The endosperm is a source of stored food, consisting primarily of starches. The seed coat consists of one or more protective layers that encase the seed.

Function

Seeds serve several functions for the plants that produce them. Key among these are nourishment of the embryo, dispersal to a new location, and dormancy during unfavorable conditions. Seeds fundamentally are means of reproduction, and most seeds are the product of sexual reproduction which results in a remixing of genetic material and phenotype variability.

Types of Seeds

There are two main types of seeds: monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous. Monocotyledonous seeds include grasses, lilies, orchids, and palms. Dicotyledonous seeds include most trees and many other plants.

Related Terms

  • Germination: The process by which a plant grows from a seed.
  • Pollination: The transfer of pollen from a male part of a plant to a female part of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds.
  • Fertilization: The fusion of gametes to initiate the development of a new individual organism.

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