smallseeded

Smallseeded is a descriptive term used in botany and agriculture to refer to seeds that are small in size or mass compared with related seeds. It is not a formal taxonomic category, but a practical descriptor used in species descriptions, seed catalogs, and breeding notes.

Size assessments use metrics such as thousand-seed weight, seed length, and seed area. Within a species or cultivar group, some accessions can be classified as smallseeded if their seeds are notably smaller than standard references.

Ecologically, small seeds tend to occur in large numbers per plant and often disperse more widely, especially when wind-dispersal mechanisms are present. They typically provide less stored resource per seed, which can influence germination rates, seedling vigor, and establishment depending on environmental conditions.

Agriculturally, seed size affects sowing rate, drill spacing, and planting depth. Smallseeded seeds may require finer sowing equipment, different media, and adjusted storage conditions to maintain viability. In seed processing and trade, size-based grading is common to separate lots for specific market segments.

Examples of contexts in which the term appears include botanical descriptions, seed catalogs, and breeding reports where distinctions between smallseeded and larger-seeded varieties are relevant. It is used across herbs, ornamentals, and some crops, but does not define a single unified group.

See also: Seed size; Thousand-seed weight; Seed dispersal; Plant breeding.