Seeds are baby plants, or the fertilized ovules of a plant. Seeds come in a range of size and shapes. The smallest seed belongs to orchids, which can been dust-sized and weigh as little as 0.0000035 oz. The largest seed comes from the coco-de-mer or “double coconut” palm (Lodoicea maldivica), which can be 12 in long, and weigh up 40 lbs. In every flowering plant, seeds are born in fruits
Functions of seeds
■ Protection: The seed seems to have evolved as a way to protect the embryo from the environment; a seed allows the plant young to survive dry or harsh condition for short periods.
■ Dispersal: Besides the fruit, some seeds have special features that aid in their dispersal by animal, wind or water.
■ Warning: Some seeds are poisonous and exhibit a coloration pattern that warns animals; these seeds do not need an animal disperser, and use other dispersal methods.