Most new plants will grow better if they do not have to share water, soil and sunlight with a bigger plant. When seeds are made, the plant tries to spread its seeds as far away as it can. Animals, the wind and water are used to move seeds to new places.
Some seeds are blown by the wind.
Dandelion seeds are very light and are carried by the wind. They float on the wind instead of falling straight down.
Coconuts are carried away by the sea.
Coconuts have a padded waterproof case so they can travel long distances by sea.
Squirrels eat seeds.
Many fruits are tasty but the seeds have hard cases and cannot be digested. If an animal eats a seed it will come out of the other end without being harmed. It can then grow into a new plant away from the parent plant. This squirrel carries seeds in its tummy. Other animals carry seeds on their outsides. These seed cases have hooks or burrs to catch on to an animal’s coat.
These seeds have stuck to an animal’s fur.