Ace the North Carolina Envirothon Forestry Challenge 2025 – Branch Out and Leaf Your Mark!

Spotted Jewelweed, also known as Impatiens capensis, has particularly interesting adaptations for seed transport. The plant features pods that explode when they are ripe, ejecting seeds away from the parent plant. This explosive dispersal mechanism allows the seeds to be scattered over a wider area, increasing the potential for germination in a variety of suitable environments. This adaptation is critical for its survival and distribution, particularly in areas where it may face competition or environmental challenges.

On the other hand, ferns have different strategies for reproduction and seed distribution. Ferns reproduce via spores rather than seeds, which are typically transported by wind, water, or animals. While this is a form of dispersal, it does not involve special adaptations specifically for seed transport, as ferns do not produce seeds at all.

Because Spotted Jewelweed clearly exhibits a unique adaptation for seed dispersal, the statement is true. Thus, the answer correctly identifies that at least the Spotted Jewelweed has a special adaptation for seed transport.