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How do winged seeds of the Javan cucumber travel away from the parent plant?
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Cucurbitales
Pumpkins and gourds, order Cucurbitales.
The Javan cucumber (Alsomitra macrocarpa), a tropical climber belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, utilizes wind dispersal to move its seeds away from the parent plant.12
These seeds are notable for having a giant, thin, membranaceous wing—reaching up to 15 cm (6 inches) in length—which is formed by the testa. This specialized wing structure allows the seeds to glide through the air, facilitating their travel away from the parent plant. Unlike the explosive, ballistic seed dispersal mechanism found in the squirting cucumber, the Javan cucumber relies on this aerodynamic design to achieve its dispersal.123