Shooting Mechanisms in Nature: A Systematic Review
Fig 9
The structural categorization of the identified shooting mechanisms in plants, allocated based on the energy management criteria discussed above.
Fluid pressure catapult: observed in the genus Arceuthobium. Swelling coiling catapult: observed in the genus Impatiens, Cornus canadensis, and Morus alba, schematic illustration of Impatiens capensis, Drying coiling catapult: observed in the genus Cardamine and the family Fabaceae, schematic illustration of Cardamine parviflora. Drying squeeze catapult: observed in the family Euphorbiaceae, the Rutaceae family, the genus Illicium, the species Oxalis acetosella, and the Viola family, schematic illustration of Hura crepitans. Air pressure catapult: observed in the genus Sphagnum. Cavitation coiling catapult: observed in the family Polypdiaceae and genus Selaginella, schematic illustration of Polypodium aureum. In contrast to the situation in fungi, no shooting mechanisms were identified in the water condensation category.