Tree Seeds

Most trees produce a large number of seeds, each has its own way of trying to spread those seeds far and wide. Some, like the eastern cottonwood, have feathery plumes that carry seeds along the wind. The many oak species throughout the park rely on animals such as squirrels and blue jays to bury them. The witch hazel seeds encased in small pods that create tremendous tension when they dry out. Eventually, the pods burst open, sending the seeds flying through the air. Bladdernut shrubs, which grow along the river’s edge, have seeds in bladder that floats, allowing the river to carry the seeds away. And some, like the black walnut, use plain-old gravity. The heavy seeds fall from the tree with an audible “thud!” How many different types of seeds can you find?