Post by @mfeilner@mastodon.social

Today I learned something new. So dont touch Ecballium - it will squirt it's seamen chemicals and more on you and everything in up to 8 (!) meter surrounding, causing drug like experience and sickness when it e.g. hits the eye (!). But I love the German name. "Spitzgurke". Will be a new favorite swearword for me and my not friends #spritzgurke

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecballium

Ecballium

genus of plants

#spritzgurke

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Markus Feilner

@mfeilner@mastodon.social 16 min. ago

"Pressure to expel the seeds is created by the increased concentration of a glucoside called elaterinidin in the sap of the fruit tissue cells, leading to a turgor pressure of up to 27 atms. "
And here is a video:

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/plant-facts/squirting-cucumber

Discover Wildlife

Squirting cucumbers terrified the Romans – and this new high-speed video reveals exactly why | Discover Wildlife

In the first century AD, Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote of the squirting cucumber's ability to fire out seeds, "endangering the eyes”. Back then, many mysteries surrounded this strange member of the gourd family. Now, using cutting-edge technology, scientists say they've finally worked out how the plant's explosive mechanisms work.