Shooting Mechanisms in Nature: A Systematic Review
Fig 12
Swelling coiling catapult mechanism in Cornus canadensis.
(A) Immature flower bud of C. canadensis. (B) Mature flower bud with filaments emerging from between the petals as the former have grown faster than the latter. (C–D) When a critical pressure is reached, dehiscence of the connection that hold the petals together allow the petals and filaments to unfold rapidly, releasing the stored elastic energy and discharging the pollen into the air. Drawings based on high-speed video images in [73]. Scale bar 1.5 mm.