Life after death

It's always worth checking the dry brown  husks of the teasel at this time of the year - well, I do. The  flowers themselves are long gone but  In damp weather the seeds (the ones not taken by goldfinches) may germinate while still lodged in the spiky combs creating this peculiar 'undead' effect. 

The phenomenon is known as plant vivipary (live birth) and is also  seen in tomatoes and strawberries  - creating dismay for would-be consumers.
 See here

I imagine the phenomenon must have some survival value to have persisted.  When the dead standing stalks eventually collapse and hit the ground the  germinated plantlets will have a running start?