Helicopts

/ˈhɛlɪkɒpts/ noun

Definition

Plural of helicopt; a term in botany for winged fruits or seeds designed to spin and helicopter-like fall through the air to spread seeds.

Etymology

From Greek 'helix' (spiral) and Latin 'pteron' (wing), literally 'spiral-winged,' describing how these seeds auto-rotate as they fall from trees.

Kelly Says

Maple seeds and ash seeds are perfect helicopts—they spin as they fall, which slows their descent and lets wind carry them far from the parent tree, like thousands of tiny helicopters spreading the forest!

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