What describes the movement of seeds away from the parent plant?

The movement of seeds away from the parent plant is best described as seed dispersal. This process is crucial for the survival of plant species and involves various mechanisms through which seeds are transported to new locations. Dispersal helps reduce competition between the parent plant and its offspring for resources such as light, water, and nutrients. It also allows plants to colonize new areas, which can be essential for their adaptation and survival in changing environments.

Seed dispersal can occur through different methods, including wind (anemochory), water (hydrochory), animals (zoochory), and ballistic mechanisms. Each of these methods takes advantage of natural forces or living organisms to carry seeds away from the parent plant, thereby enhancing the plant's chances of thriving in diverse ecological niches.

In contrast, seed accumulation refers to seeds gathering in one place, seed propagation generally describes the methods by which plants reproduce and spread, while seed germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant once it has settled in a suitable environment.