Fruit Structure and Seed Dispersal

Fruits serve the purpose of protecting the seed(s) that they surround. Animals often will eat these fruits and in discarding the seed, aid with dispersal. Seed dispersal is important as it helps in ensuring that too many of the same plants are not in the same place. If too many plants of the same type are too close together, there will be too much competition for essential substances needed by the plants.

Fruits and seeds may also be dispersed by wind and water.