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.
