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Purple grapes
Cherries
The Function of Fruit
The fruit that holds a plant’s seeds is often large. The seeds in apples
are much smaller than the apple. The seeds in pumpkins are smaller
than the pumpkin. Fruits are also bright colors. Some cherries are red,
and some grapes are purple. Why are the fruits so large and colorful?
The structure of the fruit has several
functions
. These functions
help the plant
survive
and reproduce. The developing seeds need to
be
protected
from weather and
predators
. Large fruits provide a
protective covering that keeps the embryos in the seeds safe.
After a seed starts to grow, it needs water, light, and minerals.
Sometimes the baby plant tries to grow right beneath the
parent
plant. When that happens, the baby plant has to compete with the
larger parent plant. A new plant has a better chance to survive if it can
move away from the parent plant. Here’s where it helps to be colorful.
A pumpkin
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