Germinating sycamore seeds (Acer pseudoplatanus). A radicle (first root) is seen emerging from the head of each of the seeds. The direction the radicl

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Germinating sycamore seeds (Acer pseudoplatanus). A radicle (first root) is seen emerging from the head of each of the seeds. The direction the radicle takes is determined by gravity so that it always heads downwards. The wing on a sycamore seed acts like a propeller, allowing it to stay airborne long enough for it to be blown away from its parent tree. This means it does not have to compete with its parent for light and nutrients.

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Size: 3307px × 4252px
Photo credit: © GUSTOIMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: acer, botany, developing, development, germinating, germination, growing, growth, nature, part, parts, plant, plants, pseudoplatanus, radicle, radicles, reproduction, reproductive, root, roots, seed, seeds, shoot, shoots, sprouting, structure, sycamore, tree, trio, wing, winged, wings