Scientists Uncover the Mechanics of Squirting Cucumber's Explosive Seed Dispersal

Oxford and Manchester researchers reveal how the Mediterranean plant achieves rapid seed ejection using a unique pressurized system.

The squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) uses a high-pressure mucilage jet to eject seeds at speeds up to 20 meters per second, dispersing them up to 10 meters away.
Researchers combined high-speed videography, CT scans, and mathematical modeling to decode the plant's sophisticated seed dispersal mechanism.
Key elements include fluid redistribution from fruit to stem, fruit rotation to a 45° angle, and rapid recoil during ejection, ensuring optimal seed spread.
The plant's dispersal strategy minimizes crowding and competition by creating a nearly uniform, ring-shaped distribution of seeds around the parent plant.
Findings could inspire bio-engineered innovations, such as precise drug delivery systems using rapid, directional release mechanisms.