The Life Cycle of a Flower
For many, flowers are symbolic of life. The blooming of flowers in the spring is a sign of renewal—a new life beginning after the long winter. What many don’t realize is that the colorful blossoms we often associate with the beginning of the life cycle of a flower actually appear closer to the end.
Flower Life Cycle & the Seed
A flower’s life cycle starts with a single seed. Oftentimes, the seed is carried away from the parent plant, whether it be by the wind, or through the digestive tract of an animal. Ultimately, the seed is deposited in the soil. From a human perspective, it may seem that seed dispersal occurs randomly, often by accident. The truth is often quite the contrary. Some flowers are designed to have their seeds eaten by animals, creating specific built-in protections for the plant’s offspring. Most animals continue to travel once they have eaten, ensuring that the seeds will be deposited away from the parent plant, eliminating competition between the parent and offspring and ensuring a flowers life cycle can reach maturation.
