Stand back! This explosive cucumber is bursting with seeds
Summary
Researchers studied the squirting cucumber, a plant that spreads its seeds by exploding. The plant's fruit builds up pressure and, when disturbed, bursts open, sending seeds flying far from the parent plant to reduce competition.Key Facts
- The squirting cucumber releases its seeds by bursting when ripe.
- The fruit is filled with fluid that creates pressure and causes the explosion.
- The plant's seeds can travel nearly 40 feet away due to this mechanism.
- Researchers measured a consistent fruit angle of about 50 degrees, which helps the seeds shoot far.
- The seeds can reach speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour.
- High-speed videos and micro-CT scans helped researchers understand how the seeds are lined up and ejected.
- A similar study found the seeds can travel at 37 miles per hour and also confirmed the long distance of seed travel.
- The seed expulsion is unique because the plant uses fluid to propel its seeds.
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