Why Are Plant Oils Found in Seeds?

Function

• Plant seeds contain oils that the seed needs to transition from dormant seed to above-ground sprout. These oils nourish the seed until it is mature enough to draw minerals from the soil and photosynthesize sunshine. Some seeds, such as canola seeds, or rapeseed, are easier to process than others and therefore are farmed on a larger scale.

Types

• Most types of useful seed oils come from what are called oilseed plants, which include sunflowers, coconuts, castor, soybeans, palm trees and several others. Almost any species of seed contains some oil, but these species contain some of the highest concentrations of oil among cultivated plants.

Benefits

• Many types of seed oil are nutritious and highly sought for culinary use. Sunflower oil, for example, has a high level of unsaturated fatty acids and boasts a high smoke point, meaning that it will not turn bitter when frying food. Sunflower oil is often used in margarine and salad dressings. Peanut oil and coconut oil are also often used for cooking.