The fruit of the mistletoe, a parasitic angiosperm, is a one-seeded berry. In members of the genus Viscum, the outside of the seed is viscous (sticky), which permits the seed to adhere to surfaces, such as the branches of host plants or the beaks of birds. What should be expected of the fruit if the viscosity of Viscum seeds is primarily an adaptation for dispersal rather than an adaptation for infecting host plant tissues?
A) It should be drab in color.
B) It should be colored so as to provide it with camouflage.
C) It should be nutritious.
D) It should secrete enzymes that can digest bark.
E) It should contain chemicals that cause birds to fly to the ground and vomit.
The anterior spiracles (respiratory openings) of a fruit fly larvae magnified 1500x.
parasitic nematode worm
Fruit
Fresh Fruit vs. Dried Fruit
Perception of Fruit: Apple
The capsule of the fruit of the jimson weed, Datura stramonium