This dramatic method of seed dispersal is more common than you might think. Some species, like crossandra, must dry and then be remoistened to expel their seeds. According to Zona, the champion seed shooter is Tetraberlinia moreliana, an African, leguminous tree that hurls its seeds nearly 200 feet. The answer is survival. It's likely that at least a few seeds will wind up in spots congenial enough for them to germinate, mature, and carry on the process.
Fruits are the mature, seed-bearing ovaries of flowers.
The term doesn't imply edibility, since the majority of fruits are inedible. Drupes, berries, pods, nuts and capsules are all fruits. Charles Reynolds, a WinterHaven resident, has an associate's degree in horticulture and is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America.