Seed shapes

Tiny, kidney-shaped seeds are less than 1 mm in length.

Almost all the grain is filled with starchy tissue. Hundreds of seedlike fruits are produced per flower head.

Odd-shaped seeds are about 2–3 mm across.

Yellow kernels are rich in vitamins. This curved, bumpy fruit is filled by a single, curved seed.

Bright red wings grow up to 4 in (10 cm) long.

Black seeds have a heart-shaped white patch. Small, dry fruits are used as a spice.

Wrinkled, oval seeds are known as stones or pits.

Wide, thin wings help this seed glide for hundreds of feet.

Two coffee seeds, or beans, are produced in each red fruit of the coffee plant.

A juicy, red coat surrounds each seed.

This round seed grows up to 2½ in (6.5 cm) long.

A circular, papery wing surrounds this spiky seed pod.

A seed is a small package that protects a young plant and contains all the nutrients the plant will need to germinate. Although all seeds do the same job, they come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, to help each one survive in its particular environment and spread without being eaten by hungry animals. The giant coco de mer seed is able to hold a lot of nutrients so that the new plant has enough energy to grow out of its mother’s shadow. The poppy has another survival strategy—rather than one big seed, it produces tens of thousands of tiny seeds to maximize its chances. The spiky coats of the horse chestnut seed and the kiaat seed pod

These massive seeds are the largest and heaviest in the world, weighing up to 39 ½ lb (18 kg) each.

These glossy seeds are protected by a spiky shell.

Flat, circular seeds are a good source of protein.

deter hungry animals, while other seeds, such as those of the avocado and peach, are too hard for most plant eaters to munch. Sometimes, what we think of as seeds are, in fact, fruits with seeds inside, including those of the sunflower, coriander, and pot marigold.