Sweet Gum Tree Fruit - Why Bother ?

Subject: Sweet Gum Tree Fruit - Why Bother ?

Date: Tue Mar 8 19:04:59 2005
Posted by Samuel Larsen
Grade level: grad (science) School: No school entered.
City: West Lafayette State/Province: IN Country: 47906
Area of science: Botany
ID: 1110330299.Bt

Message:


What are the current theories regarding the relationship between the morphology
(shape, etc) of the spiky fruit from the sweet gum tree and any proposed 
reproductive advangages ? Apparently, the spiky fruit hold winged seeds.  Why 
does the tree bother making spikey fruit when a simple winged seed design 
would do ? And I don't buy the argument that the fruit "sticks" to the fur of 
animals. 

Your thoughts ?

Re: Sweet Gum Tree Fruit - Why Bother ?

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