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Name: Luke
Status: other
Grade: other
Location: SC
Country: USA
Date: Summer 2009
Question:
Are there some seeds that require that they pass through the digestive tract of an animal? if so which ones?


Replies:
The process often helps facilitate the thinning of the seed coat, but possibly not absolutely required.

The following should be helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed#Inducing_germination

http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=20000316248

http://www.jstor.org/pss/2389811

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3546519

Anthony R. Brach, PhD
Missouri Botanical Garden


Click here to return to the Botany Archives

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