How do elaters help disperse Equisetum spores?

In the plant taxon Equisetopsida, the spores of the genus Equisetum feature four specialized appendages known as elaters. These structures are formed from the breakdown of the spore's outermost wall layer.12

Elaters play a critical role in spore dispersal by responding to changes in environmental humidity. They are highly sensitive to moisture, causing them to coil and uncoil as humidity levels fluctuate. This movement helps to disseminate the spores from the sporangia into the surrounding environment.12