This close-up shows the downy texture of the peach. Researchers think the fuzz helps protect the peach from insects and disease.

The peach spreads its single seed by virtue of fleshy deliciousness: A number of mammals happily devour the fruit, and the seed's large, armored shell allows it to pass safely through a large herbivore. And after it passes through the digestive tract, it conveniently emerges in a pile of fertilizer.