Wind Seed Dispersal of Thistle
Thistle species (Cirsium) employ wind dispersal, or anemochory, to spread their seeds over wide areas. The seeds, known as achenes, are equipped with a feathery structure called a pappus, which functions like a parachute, allowing the wind to carry them long distances. This evolutionary adaptation aids in the colonization of new habitats, enabling thistles to thrive in disturbed areas. As members of the Asteraceae family, thistles share the same wind-dispersal strategy seen in other plants like dandelions. This efficient dispersal mechanism ensures their survival and proliferation across diverse environments.
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Photo credit: © Phil Degginger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: achenes, adaptation, aerodynamic, anemochory, asteraceae, cirsium, colonization, currents, dandelion-, dispersal, distance, ecological, ecology, efficiency, evolutionary, family, flight, habitat, interactions, mechanisms, models, morphology, pappus, patterns, plant, plumed, populations, properties, release, reproduction, seed, seeds, species, spread, strategies, thistle, transport, wind, windborne
