Inquiry Activity 5: Seed Dispersal

Grouping Size: Work in partners

Problem: How might the structure of a seed be related to its dispersal method?

Materials: Research materials, textbook (figure 11-15), computer, library.

Procedure:

1.Make a list of 10 different seeds, including those pictured in figure 11-15 in your text.

2. Research each of the ten seeds to determine how they are dispersed.

Data and Observations

Type of Seed

Dispersal Method

Analysis:

1.Summarize your seed types into groups based on their dispersal method. What are the 5 main ways they are dispersed?

2. Are there certain features or structures that identify its dispersal method? Is there a pattern for each method?

3. Based on the features you identified could you infer a biological relationship between the plants that produced these seeds?