  Wind dispersal of seeds is one essential mechanisms for plants to proliferate
and to invade new territories. In this paper we present a methodology that
combines 3D-printing, a minimal theoretical model and experiments to determine
the shape of multi-winged autorotating seeds, fruits and other diaspores that
provide them with the optimal wind dispersion potential i.e. minimal terminal
descent velocity. Experiments are performed on 3D-printed synthetic fruits for
a wide range of wing fold angles, base wing angles and wing loadings to
determine how these affect the flight. Our experimental and theoretical model
find an optimal wing fold angle that minimizes the descent velocity, which may
be an important parameter that improves the fitness of these plants in an
ecological strategy.
