Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » How flowering plants beat the competition

November 14, 2006

How flowering plants beat the competition

How flowering plants beat out the competition on ancient earth:

as the world headed into a cooler, drier climate around 250 million years ago, the early seed-bearing plants had a distinct advantage over their simpler, spore-releasing relatives that then flourished in moist, warm swamps.

Seed-bearing plants also figured out better ways to get around. Some seeds sprout improbably elaborate barbs in order to snag a lift on passing animals. A significant number hitch a ride by growing a morsel called a elaiosome that entices ants to carry them off a few feet. Other seeds are textured or buoyant, so they can float away on wind or water.

The human appetite for seeds has resulted in new forms of dispersal as well. Thousands of years ago, people began collecting and cultivating nutrient-rich seeds, like corn, lentils, and oats, for food.

by curiouscat Tags: Life Science, Science, Students
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2 Responses to “How flowering plants beat the competition”

Fun Fungi Says:
December 10th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
“Fungi, on the other hand, are fundamentally alien…
Some lurk in the Earth, spreading out over hundreds of acres. Others live inside insects, forcing them to climb to the tip of a blade of grass, so that they can shower their spores down on new victims….”
Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Science and the Excitement, the Mystery and the Awe of a Flower Says:
July 21st, 2008 at 10:33 am
[...] Vega Science Lectures: Feynman and More - How flowering plants beat the competition - What Are Flowers For? by curiouscat Tags: Podcast, Students Permalink to: [...]