How can bird droppings grow sunflowers?

Question

Sunflowers randomly began to grow in my backyard, i believe its from bird droppings. If so, how does it work? do they eat seeds and not digest them properly? Is it even possible for them to p**p and have it grow into sunflowers?

Answer 1

That how some plants re-populate and there seeds get spread out.

Answer 2

When a bird eats a sunflower seed, it cracks the seed open and eats the 'nut' (cotyledons and embryo).  The gut and crop of the bird are set up to fully digest the inner part of the seed (the crop has grit in it from birds eating bits of soil; the grit essentially sands down the food).  Therefore, the sunflowers are not coming from the bird droppings.  Even on the random chance that the 'nut' came out whole, it lacks the protection of the outer hull and would desicate quickly.

Instead, the seed is being dispersed in one of two possible ways.  First off all, It is possible that birds are carrying whole seeds elsewhere and accidently drop them.  The other (and more common) way is that animals are carrying seeds away for storage.  When the seeds from the sunflower drop on the ground, it is possible that rodents and other small animals collect them for winter.  The seed is either dropped en route to the storage area or was placed in that spot where it grows and was not used by the animal that hid it there.

Hope that helps you out!

Answer 3

i am pretty shore  that is it but i think it takes a long time