Dispersal of fruits and seeds, and germination

Dispersal of fruits and seeds lets a species settle new places and get out of the parent’s shade. The method depends on fruit structure. Self-dispersers (autochores): balsam (xina), most legumes, vetch (burchoq), squirting cucumber (itqovun) — when the fruit ripens, internal pressure, splitting or twisting of the valves throws seeds out. Wind: fruits of poplar, willow, dandelion and cattail carry a tuft of light fluff at the tip and fly long distances; elm, ash, saksovul and maple have wings on their fruit. Water: fruits with waterproof coats (water lily, Johnson grass, plantain) float far away. Animals and birds: spiny, hooked or sticky fruits cling to wool and feathers; juicy fruits are eaten and indigestible stones and seeds are scattered with droppings. People are the most powerful disperser: in early in the 20th century camelthorn (yantoq) seed reached America mixed into lucerne seed from Central Asia. Dispersal lets plants occupy new land.