Diaspore (botany)

In botany, a diaspore is a plant dispersal unit consisting of a seed or spore plus any additional tissues that assist dispersal. Examples of such additional structures includes elaiosomes, fruits, pseudofruits or arils, as well as pappi. In a few plants, the diaspore is a tumbleweed and comprises most of the plant.

Diaspores are common in weedy and ruderal species. Collectively, diaspores, seeds, and spores that have been modified for migration are known as disseminules.