Seed dispersal in Maltese plants

Abstract

A fixed organism must evolve means of dispersing its offspring in order to survive as a species. Thus plants have devised countless ingenious adaptations for ensuring dissemination of their seeds. For convenience we can divide the various methods of dispersal into four groups: (1) by wind; (2) by animals; (3) by water and (4) mechanical. It must be kept in mind that while a plant may evolve particular adaptations to favour one of the above methods of dispersal, other agencies may also play a role in distributing the seed. The structure dispersed is the "disseminule": this may consist of just the seed; the fruit containing the seed or any additional structure which· accompanies these. In some cases the whole plant maybe carried off by the wind! The account which follows is based on plants which grow in Malta.