Shooting Mechanisms in Nature: A Systematic Review
Fig 11
Swelling coiling catapult mechanism in Impatiens capensis.
(A) The seedpod consisting of five interconnected valves. Elastic energy is stored in the seedpod by the absorption of water in the valves. When a critical pressure is reached, dehiscence of the valves from the columella and subsequent coiling discharges the seeds (A–D). (A) Shows the situation at t = 0 ms. Duration from (A) to (D) lasts about 3 to 4 ms. Drawings based on schematic drawings in [69]. Scale bar 20 mm.