The worst place for a seed is directly under its mother: too little light, siblings crowding in, and the specialist pests and fungi of that species already gathered around the trunk. The stronger the wind, the further plumed and winged seeds sail, yet the maximum ranges of the various mechanisms differ enormously: exploding fruits fling seeds only metres, while floating fruits travel furthest of all. Moisture decides whether a seed germinates now or waits in the soil seed bank.
The worst place for a seed is directly under its mother: too little light, siblings crowding in, and the specialist pests and fungi of that species already gathered around the trunk. The stronger the wind, the further plumed and winged seeds sail, yet the maximum ranges of the various mechanisms differ enormously: exploding fruits fling seeds only metres, while floating fruits travel furthest of all. Moisture decides whether a seed germinates now or waits in the soil seed bank.
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