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This plant can shoot its seeds like a machine gun. Meet the squirting cucumber, nature's firearm. Ecballium elaterium, commonly known as the squirting cucumber, isn't your average garden plant. It has a unique and explosive way of dispersing its seeds. Part of the gourd family, which includes watermelons, pumpkins, and cucumbers, it features pretty yellow flowers and fuzzy fruit that resemble real cucumbers. While many fruits rely on animals to eat them and disperse the seeds, squirting cucumbers take a different approach. As the fruit matures, tension builds within, reaching a critical point. Suddenly, the built-up pressure causes the fruit to burst open with force, ejecting its seeds at high speeds and distances. This method helps the plant spread its seeds over a wide area, showcasing an incredible example of nature's innovative strategies.

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