Final answer:
The seeds are carried away by the wind. Special structural adaptations allow seeds to be dispersed over great distances, with examples including dandelion fluff and the winged seeds of pine cones and maple trees. This mechanism has enabled seed plants to thrive in dry environments by transporting and protecting their progeny.
Step-by-step explanation:
The seeds come up and out of the plant and are carried away by the wind. One such strategy for seed dispersal involves special adaptations in the seeds that allow them to be carried long distances by the wind. For instance, the dandelion has 'fluff' that helps transport its seeds through the air. Another example is the pine cone, which contains tiny seeds with 'wings.' These structures enable the seeds to glide away when the wind blows. Similarly, maple trees produce specialized fruits with wing-like parts to
assist in seed dispersal. Pollen and Seeds are vital to the success of seed plants. Providing protection, nourishment, and dormancy to the embryo, seeds play a crucial role in ensuring that a plant’s progeny can survive harsh environments and germinate under optimal conditions. This evolution has allowed seed plants to successfully colonize dry land. Other forms of seed and spore dispersal exist as well, such as the use of sugary nectar to attract insects that can carry spores away or the presence of gemmae cups on certain plants where cells can be dispersed by rainwater and grow into new plants.