Plants can move, although they lack the muscles, joints, and neurological systems present in animals. The movement of plants, whether to disperse their seeds over their environment or to hunt down and consume other forms of life, is a topic that has historically been investigated primarily by biologists. Researchers working on robots inspired by nature are currently attempting to decipher the underlying physical processes responsible for the movements of plants.
Ferns
Ferns are one of the most spectacular illustrations of the movement of plants and are an excellent example. These vascular plants, which do not produce flowers, disperse their seeds at speeds of more than 10 meters per second, boosting the likelihood that the seeds will locate fertile soil suited for their growth.
The technique in which ferns disperse their seeds is analogous to using catapults in medieval warfare, where stones were hurled at adversaries. For the catapult to store potential energy, the first step is to give it a charge, and then the second step is to compress the spring. When the arm carrying the load is released, the energy stored in the spring is also released, which causes the arm to accelerate swiftly…