Exploding fruit mechanism

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I'm designing an alien tree species that produces small purple fruits at the edge of its braches. Now a few seconds after one of these fruits falls from the tree it makes a small explosion so that its seeds can grow into new trees in a different location. My quiestion is, how could such a mechanism of explosion work for a fruit, and how could something like that evolve in the first place










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    Real biology example: Dictamnus. Also, see video of the plant in action
    – Pavel Janicek
    1 hour ago














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2
down vote

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I'm designing an alien tree species that produces small purple fruits at the edge of its braches. Now a few seconds after one of these fruits falls from the tree it makes a small explosion so that its seeds can grow into new trees in a different location. My quiestion is, how could such a mechanism of explosion work for a fruit, and how could something like that evolve in the first place










share|improve this question

















  • 2




    Real biology example: Dictamnus. Also, see video of the plant in action
    – Pavel Janicek
    1 hour ago












up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite











I'm designing an alien tree species that produces small purple fruits at the edge of its braches. Now a few seconds after one of these fruits falls from the tree it makes a small explosion so that its seeds can grow into new trees in a different location. My quiestion is, how could such a mechanism of explosion work for a fruit, and how could something like that evolve in the first place










share|improve this question













I'm designing an alien tree species that produces small purple fruits at the edge of its braches. Now a few seconds after one of these fruits falls from the tree it makes a small explosion so that its seeds can grow into new trees in a different location. My quiestion is, how could such a mechanism of explosion work for a fruit, and how could something like that evolve in the first place







evolution flora plant-design






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asked 1 hour ago









John Michailidis

543138




543138







  • 2




    Real biology example: Dictamnus. Also, see video of the plant in action
    – Pavel Janicek
    1 hour ago












  • 2




    Real biology example: Dictamnus. Also, see video of the plant in action
    – Pavel Janicek
    1 hour ago







2




2




Real biology example: Dictamnus. Also, see video of the plant in action
– Pavel Janicek
1 hour ago




Real biology example: Dictamnus. Also, see video of the plant in action
– Pavel Janicek
1 hour ago










3 Answers
3






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5
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You're lucky, this is a case of "nature already did it". A combination of melting resin, high internal pressure and physical tension works for various existing plants such as the squirting cucumber, touch-me-nots, persian silk trees, yellow woodsorrel and violets.



You can watch slow-mo videos of them on youtube, decide on which method you prefer and then just copy it.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Water pressure and weak skin: the plant "pumps" water into the fruit as it ripens, while thinning the skin. When the ripe berries (a type of fruit which just happens to be small) falls to the hard ground, the skin bursts, and the seeds -- which by definition of being a berry -- get pushed away.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      You have two really good, informative examples (one as an answer, one in the comments) of real-world scenarios. So here is a really wild, out-there but plausible answer.



      The fruit has formed a really good symbiotic relationship with a particular strain of bacteria. The plant provides these bacteria (located in the fruit pod) with nutrients, and the bacteria produces methane gas as a byproduct.



      The fruit pod outer membrane is made of a tough, elastic protein (similar to intestines) that constrains this methane under pressure.



      When the seed pod (fruit) falls, the nutrients to the bacteria are cut off, and this signals the bacteria to start consuming the enveloping membrane of the pod. This forms a hole, and the external membrane collapses like a balloon. The guts of the pod are expelled.



      Even better



      The exposure of the bacteria to air causes them to create high voltage sparks, that ignite the methane, creating an even larger explosion, that propels the seeds far and wide, along with the bacteria. Thus, the seeds and the symbiotic bacteria are equally dispersed.



      Very recently, it has been discovered that, indeed, certain human gut bacteria do produce electricity in sufficient quantities to be usable for this purpose.



      The Bacteria in Your Gut Produce Electricity



      The physics textbook, along with the Chemistry and Biology textbooks, are recently getting very thick indeed. Knowing this makes sci-fi writing all that much easier, without calling on magic.,





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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









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        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        5
        down vote













        You're lucky, this is a case of "nature already did it". A combination of melting resin, high internal pressure and physical tension works for various existing plants such as the squirting cucumber, touch-me-nots, persian silk trees, yellow woodsorrel and violets.



        You can watch slow-mo videos of them on youtube, decide on which method you prefer and then just copy it.






        share|improve this answer
























          up vote
          5
          down vote













          You're lucky, this is a case of "nature already did it". A combination of melting resin, high internal pressure and physical tension works for various existing plants such as the squirting cucumber, touch-me-nots, persian silk trees, yellow woodsorrel and violets.



          You can watch slow-mo videos of them on youtube, decide on which method you prefer and then just copy it.






          share|improve this answer






















            up vote
            5
            down vote










            up vote
            5
            down vote









            You're lucky, this is a case of "nature already did it". A combination of melting resin, high internal pressure and physical tension works for various existing plants such as the squirting cucumber, touch-me-nots, persian silk trees, yellow woodsorrel and violets.



            You can watch slow-mo videos of them on youtube, decide on which method you prefer and then just copy it.






            share|improve this answer












            You're lucky, this is a case of "nature already did it". A combination of melting resin, high internal pressure and physical tension works for various existing plants such as the squirting cucumber, touch-me-nots, persian silk trees, yellow woodsorrel and violets.



            You can watch slow-mo videos of them on youtube, decide on which method you prefer and then just copy it.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            0xFF

            1,202149




            1,202149




















                up vote
                2
                down vote













                Water pressure and weak skin: the plant "pumps" water into the fruit as it ripens, while thinning the skin. When the ripe berries (a type of fruit which just happens to be small) falls to the hard ground, the skin bursts, and the seeds -- which by definition of being a berry -- get pushed away.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote













                  Water pressure and weak skin: the plant "pumps" water into the fruit as it ripens, while thinning the skin. When the ripe berries (a type of fruit which just happens to be small) falls to the hard ground, the skin bursts, and the seeds -- which by definition of being a berry -- get pushed away.






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    Water pressure and weak skin: the plant "pumps" water into the fruit as it ripens, while thinning the skin. When the ripe berries (a type of fruit which just happens to be small) falls to the hard ground, the skin bursts, and the seeds -- which by definition of being a berry -- get pushed away.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Water pressure and weak skin: the plant "pumps" water into the fruit as it ripens, while thinning the skin. When the ripe berries (a type of fruit which just happens to be small) falls to the hard ground, the skin bursts, and the seeds -- which by definition of being a berry -- get pushed away.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 1 hour ago









                    RonJohn

                    12.8k12661




                    12.8k12661




















                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        You have two really good, informative examples (one as an answer, one in the comments) of real-world scenarios. So here is a really wild, out-there but plausible answer.



                        The fruit has formed a really good symbiotic relationship with a particular strain of bacteria. The plant provides these bacteria (located in the fruit pod) with nutrients, and the bacteria produces methane gas as a byproduct.



                        The fruit pod outer membrane is made of a tough, elastic protein (similar to intestines) that constrains this methane under pressure.



                        When the seed pod (fruit) falls, the nutrients to the bacteria are cut off, and this signals the bacteria to start consuming the enveloping membrane of the pod. This forms a hole, and the external membrane collapses like a balloon. The guts of the pod are expelled.



                        Even better



                        The exposure of the bacteria to air causes them to create high voltage sparks, that ignite the methane, creating an even larger explosion, that propels the seeds far and wide, along with the bacteria. Thus, the seeds and the symbiotic bacteria are equally dispersed.



                        Very recently, it has been discovered that, indeed, certain human gut bacteria do produce electricity in sufficient quantities to be usable for this purpose.



                        The Bacteria in Your Gut Produce Electricity



                        The physics textbook, along with the Chemistry and Biology textbooks, are recently getting very thick indeed. Knowing this makes sci-fi writing all that much easier, without calling on magic.,





                        share
























                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          You have two really good, informative examples (one as an answer, one in the comments) of real-world scenarios. So here is a really wild, out-there but plausible answer.



                          The fruit has formed a really good symbiotic relationship with a particular strain of bacteria. The plant provides these bacteria (located in the fruit pod) with nutrients, and the bacteria produces methane gas as a byproduct.



                          The fruit pod outer membrane is made of a tough, elastic protein (similar to intestines) that constrains this methane under pressure.



                          When the seed pod (fruit) falls, the nutrients to the bacteria are cut off, and this signals the bacteria to start consuming the enveloping membrane of the pod. This forms a hole, and the external membrane collapses like a balloon. The guts of the pod are expelled.



                          Even better



                          The exposure of the bacteria to air causes them to create high voltage sparks, that ignite the methane, creating an even larger explosion, that propels the seeds far and wide, along with the bacteria. Thus, the seeds and the symbiotic bacteria are equally dispersed.



                          Very recently, it has been discovered that, indeed, certain human gut bacteria do produce electricity in sufficient quantities to be usable for this purpose.



                          The Bacteria in Your Gut Produce Electricity



                          The physics textbook, along with the Chemistry and Biology textbooks, are recently getting very thick indeed. Knowing this makes sci-fi writing all that much easier, without calling on magic.,





                          share






















                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote









                            You have two really good, informative examples (one as an answer, one in the comments) of real-world scenarios. So here is a really wild, out-there but plausible answer.



                            The fruit has formed a really good symbiotic relationship with a particular strain of bacteria. The plant provides these bacteria (located in the fruit pod) with nutrients, and the bacteria produces methane gas as a byproduct.



                            The fruit pod outer membrane is made of a tough, elastic protein (similar to intestines) that constrains this methane under pressure.



                            When the seed pod (fruit) falls, the nutrients to the bacteria are cut off, and this signals the bacteria to start consuming the enveloping membrane of the pod. This forms a hole, and the external membrane collapses like a balloon. The guts of the pod are expelled.



                            Even better



                            The exposure of the bacteria to air causes them to create high voltage sparks, that ignite the methane, creating an even larger explosion, that propels the seeds far and wide, along with the bacteria. Thus, the seeds and the symbiotic bacteria are equally dispersed.



                            Very recently, it has been discovered that, indeed, certain human gut bacteria do produce electricity in sufficient quantities to be usable for this purpose.



                            The Bacteria in Your Gut Produce Electricity



                            The physics textbook, along with the Chemistry and Biology textbooks, are recently getting very thick indeed. Knowing this makes sci-fi writing all that much easier, without calling on magic.,





                            share












                            You have two really good, informative examples (one as an answer, one in the comments) of real-world scenarios. So here is a really wild, out-there but plausible answer.



                            The fruit has formed a really good symbiotic relationship with a particular strain of bacteria. The plant provides these bacteria (located in the fruit pod) with nutrients, and the bacteria produces methane gas as a byproduct.



                            The fruit pod outer membrane is made of a tough, elastic protein (similar to intestines) that constrains this methane under pressure.



                            When the seed pod (fruit) falls, the nutrients to the bacteria are cut off, and this signals the bacteria to start consuming the enveloping membrane of the pod. This forms a hole, and the external membrane collapses like a balloon. The guts of the pod are expelled.



                            Even better



                            The exposure of the bacteria to air causes them to create high voltage sparks, that ignite the methane, creating an even larger explosion, that propels the seeds far and wide, along with the bacteria. Thus, the seeds and the symbiotic bacteria are equally dispersed.



                            Very recently, it has been discovered that, indeed, certain human gut bacteria do produce electricity in sufficient quantities to be usable for this purpose.



                            The Bacteria in Your Gut Produce Electricity



                            The physics textbook, along with the Chemistry and Biology textbooks, are recently getting very thick indeed. Knowing this makes sci-fi writing all that much easier, without calling on magic.,






                            share











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                            answered 1 min ago









                            Justin Thyme

                            7,0091938




                            7,0091938



























                                 

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