What is a seed?

A seed contains all that is needed to create a new plant. It holds the embryo, from which the seedling develops. It also holds enough food to help the plant through its first stages of growth either packed around the embryo or stored in special internal leaves called cotyledons. When conditions are rightfor example, when it has been exposed to water for a period of timethe seed germinates. As the young plant develops, stems and roots grow. The plant reaches maturity when it is able to reproduce by creating new seeds.