Fruits help in the dispersion or spreading of the plant's seeds.

After fertilization, the ovary begins to develop into a fruit, and ovules into seeds. The seeds are carried off and will, if conditions are acceptable, eventually start new plants.

The seeds are spread in several ways:

• Light seeds are carried away by the wind; for example, dandelion seeds.
• Birds are attracted to some fruits and, after eating the fruit, they scatter seeds that are in their droppings.
• Barbed seeds stick to animals as they move among the plants and then the seeds eventually fall off or are scratched off.
• If some types of fruit are shaken by external forces; for example, by the wind, the seeds will drop out into the soil.