Editing Seed (section)

=== Size and seed set ===
[[File:Seed variety.jpg|thumb|A collection of various vegetable and herb seeds]]
Seeds are very diverse in size. The dust-like orchid seeds are the smallest, with about one million seeds per gram; they are often embryonic seeds with immature embryos and no significant energy reserves. Orchids and a few other groups of plants are [[myco-heterotrophy|mycoheterotrophs]] which depend on [[mycorrhizal fungi]] for nutrition during germination and the early growth of the seedling. Some terrestrial orchid seedlings, in fact, spend the first few years of their lives deriving energy from the fungi and do not produce green leaves.<ref>Smith, Welby R. 1993. ''Orchids of Minnesota''. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 8.</ref> At up to 55 pounds (25 kilograms) the largest seed is the ''[[coco de mer]]''(Lodoicea maldivica).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Blackmore |first=Stephen |author2=See-Chung Chin |author3=Lindsay Chong Seng |author4=Frieda Christie |author5=Fiona Inches |author6=Putri Winda Utami |author7=Neil Watherston |author8=Alexandra H. Wortley |date=2012 |title=Observations on the Morphology, Pollination and Cultivation of Coco de Mer (''Lodoicea maldivica'' (J F Gmel.) Pers., Palmae) |journal=Journal of Botany |volume=2012 |pages=1–13 |doi=10.1155/2012/687832 |doi-access=free}}</ref> This indicates a 25 Billion fold difference in seed weight. Plants that produce smaller seeds can generate many more seeds per flower, while plants with larger seeds invest more resources into those seeds and normally produce fewer seeds. Small seeds are quicker to ripen and can be dispersed sooner, so autumnal blooming plants often have small seeds. Many annual plants produce great quantities of smaller seeds; this helps to ensure at least a few will end in a favorable place for growth. Herbaceous perennials and woody plants often have larger seeds; they can produce seeds over many years, and larger seeds have more energy reserves for germination and seedling growth and produce larger, more established seedlings after germination.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Plant Ecology|volume=194|issue=2|pages=149–156|last=Kosinki|first=Igor|title=Long-term variability in seed size and seedling establishment of ''Maianthemum bifolium''|doi=10.1007/s11258-007-9281-1|year=2007|bibcode=2007PlEco.194..149K |s2cid=31774027}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Shannon DA |author2=Isaac L |author3=Brockman FE |title=Assessment of hedgerow species for seed size, stand establishment and seedling height |journal=Agroforestry Systems |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=95–110 |date=February 1996 |doi=10.1007/BF02345331 |bibcode=1996AgrSy..35...95S |s2cid=2328584 }}</ref>