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“But fruits aren’t just for us. They’re a clever evolutionary strategy. By making themselves tasty and appealing, plants ensure that animals (including humans)
by sagarpatil 2y ago
“But fruits aren’t just for us. They’re a clever evolutionary strategy. By making themselves tasty and appealing, plants ensure that animals (including humans) will eat them and disperse their seeds.”
I thought fruits are nutritious because they are there to support the seed during its journey.
- TZubiri 2y agoNope, the fruit is for the humans or whatever pollinators, as a reward, in a similar way that pollen is a reward for bees. The food for the seed is inside of the seed, which is often not the fruit. Most fruits are different anatomically, but you will find that an apple has little seeds, you open it and you will find endosperm in it, mostly food for the little embryo in the seed. For stuff like wheat we really do eat the endosperm, but for stuff like apples and watermelons and peaches, we spit out the seeds. (For peaches we often don't even see the seed, which is hidden inside of a woody endocarp, you can crack it open and find the actual seed inside. So if you thought that the peach meat was the food for the seed you were doubly wrong, you need to go several layers deep in order to find the seed food.
- goda90 2y agoNectar is the reward for bees to get them to carry the pollen.
- TZubiri 2y agoOh you are right, got them mixed up
- sagarpatil 2y agoThank you. This was eye opening.