The survival of plant species

Seed dispersal is the movement or transport of seeds as far away from the parent plant as possible.


The seeds and fruits of plants must be dispersed is to ensure that the new plants will be able to grow healthily and later produce new plants.


Plants have limited mobility and consequently rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their propagules, including both abiotic and biotic vectors. Seeds can be dispersed away from the parent plant individually or collectively, as well as dispersed in both space and time.

Seeds and fruits are dispersed in four main ways.

• by animals
• by the wind
• self dispersal
• by water

The flow chart below shows examples of common wild plants, and the many different ways in which these plants disperse their fruits and seeds. Click on the pictures to find out more about each.