Hi,
Zinnia seed is the bottom of the petals in the base of the flower. They are the arrowhead shaped appendages. I don't have any old flower heads yet to take a photo for you. I hope by my description, you will figure out what the seed is.
Remy

This page might help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Saving Zinnea Seed

You also might have some birds eating the seeds before you can get to them. Here at my house the yellow finches and a few of the house finches love to eat my zinnia seeds. So I just over planted that way I can share. But I have noticed they are already after the seeds now.

Paula

I am having trouble figuring out zinnia seeds also, the ones I have deadheaded & dried have the arrowhead lookin seeds around the outer edge, but in the center of the deadhead it is a different shape (more long & narrow & ALOT softer)(thanks Sue LOL) so is the center seed or chaff? or just the ones on the outside edge that are hard & looks like an arrowhead? There is alot of soft ones in the center but not many hard arrowhead ones on the outer edge.

Hi LillyJane,
The long narrow and a lot softer are seeds that never developed all the way. One of two things happened. Either you deadheaded too soon and the center ones didn't have time to finish growing, or incomplete fertilization took place and the center ones would never finish growing no matter how long you waited.
Remy

Thanks for the answer, I glad that I know now. ")
Jan (lillyjane)

Hey Katidid,

I am not quite sure on how to collect coleus seeds, but I am an expert on zinnia seeds! I have been collecting Zinnia seeds forever, So I decided to write a blog on that very subject. This whole month I will be talking about collecting, saving, and storing seeds from Zinnias, Tomatoes, Peppers, Snap Dragons, Cucumbers, Prairie Mallow, and any other that I feel like!
My blog url is:
www.vioboy.blogspot.com

~Zach

Here is a link that might be useful: my blog

thanks zack that is just what i wanted to know. paula

I added a Blog entry with photos on how to collect seeds from Zennia's if you would like to view the pics.

http://thepagancircle.com/forum/wordpress/?p=217

Hope it helps!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Blog Directions to Collecting Zennia Seeds