seed, Reproductive structure in plants that consists of a plant embryo, usually accompanied by a supply of food (endosperm, which is produced during fertilization) and enclosed in a protective coat. Seed production follows pollination and fertilization. In typical flowering plants, the flower ovary that enclosed the ovules (unfertilized seeds) develops into a fruit containing the maturing seeds. In gymnosperms, such as cycads and conifers, seeds are borne in cones. Most seeds are small, weighing less than a gram; the smallest contain no food reserve. At the opposite extreme, the seed of the double coconut palm may weigh up to about 27 kg (60 lb). Seeds are highly adapted to transportation by animals, wind, and water. When circumstances are favourable, water and oxygen penetrate the seed coat, and the new plant begins to grow (see germination). The longevity of seeds varies widely: some remain viable for only about a week, while others have been known to germinate after hundreds or even thousands of years.
Discover