Book 9, Question 89
Why Are Berries Often Tiny and Many?
Berries are often tiny and many because small fruits can send out lots of seeds! A plant that makes many berries gets many chances to have its seeds carried away. More tries means a better chance that some seeds find a good spot to grow.
More fun facts
- When birds eat berries, the seeds pass through their gut and are often dropped far away, spreading plants far and wide.
- Tomatoes, grapes, kiwifruit and peppers are true berries in plant science.
- Cucumbers, melons and squash are a kind of berry too, with a firm rind and watery inside.
- Oranges and other citrus fruits are a kind of berry with a leathery rind and usually only a few seeds.
- Bananas have seeds too, but they are tiny black spots in the middle of a slice.
Sources: BBC, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
How do birds help berry plants?
They eat the berries and drop the seeds far away, so new plants can grow in new places.