果実の形態にみる種子散布(総説)  [in Japanese] Dispersal characteristics exhibited in fruit morphology (Review)  [in Japanese]

The dispersal characteristics of angiosperms are briefly reviewed based mainly on their fruit and seed morphology. Among anemochorous, hydrochorous, epizoochorous and endozoochorous fruits we find convergent forms, where various organs have been modified to utilize external locomotive forces effectively. Autochory is the least influenced by the external forces among various dispersal methods. In many plant species, particularly in autochorous ones, the dispersal distances by their apparent dispersal methods are not sufficient to account entirely for their isolated distributions. Dispersal characteristics appear to contribute chiefly to insuring that propagules reach suitable habitats for the maintenance of populations.