While most of us think of plant life as something ordinary and carefree, there are actually plants that are exceptions to this rule. One such unique specimen, the Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis), became an object of interest to scientists when they discovered that it had extraordinary mechanical power in dispersing its seeds.
The beginning of research on this topic was reflected in the University of Freiburg; According to lead researcher Simon Popping, “a branch of this plant was in our office and we witnessed how it produced seeds.” This led to a more in-depth study of the phenomenon using a combination of MRI scans, microscopy and a high-speed camera.
Researchers found that Chinese witch hazel berries act like “drying catapults,” drying the outer shell (exocarp) causing it to shrink in size, while the inner part (endocarp) remains stationary, creating mechanical pressure on the seed inside. When that moment comes, this pressure is immense and causes a spectacular ejection of the seed, which surprisingly happens without any explosive mechanism.
Such a dizzying mechanism leads to impressive results: the Chinese witch hazel seed can fly with a force equivalent to approximately 2000 g, which allows it to fly a long distance at a speed of up to 44.3 km/h.
The study showed that the seeds can fly up to 18 meters while spinning at incredible speed in flight, similar to the famous markings on balls.
Such characteristics may be key to the successful spread of Chinese witch hazel in its natural environment, where it competes with other plants for space. Source
Source: Port Altele
