Seeds are used to propagate many crops such as cereals, legumes, forest trees, turfgrasses and pasture grasses.
Some seeds are also poisonous. One of the deadliest poisons, ricin, comes from seeds of the castor bean. Another seed poison is strychnine. Other poisonous seeds are those of yew, wisteria, apple, horse-chestnut and peach.
The world's most important clothing fiber grows attached to cotton seed. Other seed fibers are from kapok and milkweed. Many important nonfood oils are extracted from seeds. Linseed oil is used in paints. Oil from jojoba and crambe are similar to whale oil.
Seeds are the source of some medicines including castor oil, Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil) and the discredited cancer drug, Laetrile. Many seeds have been used as beads in necklaces and rosaries including Job's tears, Chinaberry and rosary pea. However, the latter two are also poisonous.


