This reminded me of the South American "dynamite tree" (Hura crepitans, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hura_crepitans ), which wikipedia says launches seeds from its exploding fruits at 160 mph, up to 100 ft away! A pretty menacing tree actually, its trunk covered in huge thorns and it has a poisonous sap.
> The experiments also revealed that the fruit stem straightens up during ripening, creating an average 53° angle that is close to the theoretical perfect angle of 50° that would maximize shooting distance.
Some time ago, I grew clover in flower pots at the office and noticed one day that there were seeds stuck on the window pane.
Further observation revealed that clover flowers used a similar yet opposite mechanism to squirting cucumbers featured in this article. The seed pods would form and then dry out, and the dryness would form a tightness in the seed pod that upon touch(or given enough time and dryness), would burst out propelling its seeds far away from the plant.
While some seeds would stick to the window, I can only assume now that this is the seed itself clinging to other surfaced as another propagation method that I've not fully understood.
Comparing this experience to the article and the squirting cucumbers, I can imagine that the liquid used in this mechanism would only be useful to heavier seeds, as the added weight would hinder any 'dry' spread process.
This is only my immediate thoughts but it seems that evolution and time have figured out this concept long ago! Cool stuff!
> speeds up to 29 miles per hour and reach shooting distances up to 12 meters.
My brain hurts.
But I learned a new word: mucilaginous.
This reminded me of the South American "dynamite tree" (Hura crepitans, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hura_crepitans ), which wikipedia says launches seeds from its exploding fruits at 160 mph, up to 100 ft away! A pretty menacing tree actually, its trunk covered in huge thorns and it has a poisonous sap.
Wow. We really have it good considering most trees don't fire projectiles at us.
Wild how evolution landed on 53° as the ideal launch angle. Nature’s own ballistics optimization.
53° is very close to a 3-4-5 triangle
Evolution meets Euclid.
> The experiments also revealed that the fruit stem straightens up during ripening, creating an average 53° angle that is close to the theoretical perfect angle of 50° that would maximize shooting distance.
I recall from school that distance is maximized for a ballistic path when the angle is 45°. See e.g. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/football-projecti...
Did someone get confused while writing this article or is there some reason why the optimal angle would be different in this situation?
45deg is optimal if you neglect air drag on the projectile
Some time ago, I grew clover in flower pots at the office and noticed one day that there were seeds stuck on the window pane.
Further observation revealed that clover flowers used a similar yet opposite mechanism to squirting cucumbers featured in this article. The seed pods would form and then dry out, and the dryness would form a tightness in the seed pod that upon touch(or given enough time and dryness), would burst out propelling its seeds far away from the plant.
While some seeds would stick to the window, I can only assume now that this is the seed itself clinging to other surfaced as another propagation method that I've not fully understood.
Comparing this experience to the article and the squirting cucumbers, I can imagine that the liquid used in this mechanism would only be useful to heavier seeds, as the added weight would hinder any 'dry' spread process.
This is only my immediate thoughts but it seems that evolution and time have figured out this concept long ago! Cool stuff!
(edit: typo)
Great capture and it's funny to read the "possible applications" section when you know humans just love watching slow motion exploding things.
I know it’s not the point, but:
> 29 miles per hour and reach shooting distances up to 12 meters
Clash between Metric and Imperial is still alive.
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