Seed Size, Dispersal Syndromes, and the Rise of the Angiosperms: Evidence and Hypothesis

he seeds and fruits of angiosperms serve the have demonstrated a strong correlation between functions of nurturing, protecting, and dispersing ght While the embryonic plant, and thus form an evolu-tus of the parent plant.Herbaceous plants, and tionarily sensitive portion of the life cycle of the those of early successional stages, tend to have whole organism.Two of these functions also en-small propagules, while dominant forest trees and ' I thank Uo J Hickev rVale University) for his devil's advocacy, which has clarified my thinking; I^rl J.