Seed Dispersal Glossary
Adaptation Any characteristic which helps an organism to
survive where it lives. These can be characteristics of physical structure, functioning or
behaviour.
Asexual Reproduction Reproduction lacking any form of sexual fusion between male and female gametes.
Berry A many-seeded, succulent fruit. An outer skin encloses a thick fleshy interior, with an inner thin layer.
Capsule A dry fruit which doesn't explode, developed from a compound ovary
Carpel The female reproductive organ of Flowering Plants.
Competition Plants and animals compete for scarce resources in order to survive. more.
Embryo A plant at an early stage of development, or a developing organism.
Fertilisation The union of two different types of gametes to form a zygote.
Fruit The ripened ovary of a flower, containing seeds.
Gametes Reproductive cells which unite in pairs to produce zygotes.
Nut A fairly large hard, dry one seeded fruit which does not explode.
Ovary The hollow basal region of a carpel, containing one or more ovlues. Several carpels may be fused to form a compound ovary.
Pollination The transfer of pollen from a stamen to a receptive stigma.
Seeds The matured ovule of a Flowering Plant, containing usually one embryo, plus food reserves,surrounded by a seed coat.
Stamen The male reproductive organ of Flowering Plants, which bears the pollen.
Stigma The part of the carpel of a Flowering Plant which is adapted to receive pollen grains.
Style The part of the carpel between the ovary and the stigma. It is usually long and thin.
Vegetative Reproduction Asexual reproduction in plants through the detachment of some part of the vegetative plant body.
Zygote The cell that
results from the fusion of two gametes.