The scientists’ observations revealed four main stages in the cucumber spraying process: First, several weeks after the seeds are released, the fruits are filled with a thick, viscous liquid. With just a few days to go, some of the liquid is released into the stem, making the stem longer, thicker, and firmer. This step changes the angle of the plant from near vertical to about 45 degrees, which is the ideal angle for throwing.
When the day finally comes to launch, the tip of the stalk detaches from the fruit in a quick motion, causing the fruit to spin rapidly in the opposite direction. This step is especially surprising because the water cucumber appears to be the only species in the plant world that does this. Eventually, the seeds are thrown into the air, and the first seeds to be thrown travel the farthest distance. When the work of throwing the seeds is finished, the seeds are scattered at a distance of 2 to 10 meters from the mother plant and in an area in the form of a ring.
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Water cucumbers have been studied since the time of philosophers and the Roman writer Pliny the Great (23/24 AD – 79 AD). He wrote about the mentioned plant: “Unless the cucumber is cut before it ripens, otherwise its seeds are thrown and may even injure the eyes.”
Today, water cucumber has spread so much that it is known as a weed in many areas, and its special feature is its remarkable ability to throw seeds, which should not be underestimated.
The study is published in the journal PNAS.
