Imbibition

Imbibition is a special type of diffusion that takes place when liquid is absorbed by solids-colloids causing an increase in volume.

[clarification needed] Imbibition is also a type of diffusion since water movement is along the concentration gradient.

The magnitude of such pressure can be demonstrated by the splitting of rocks by inserting dry wooden stalks in their crevices and soaking them in water, a technique used by early Egyptians to cleave stone blocks.

The radicle is the first part of a seedling (a growing plant embryo) to emerge from the seed during the process of germination.

[4] The radicle is the embryonic root of the plant, and grows downward in the soil (the shoot emerges from the plumule) where it absorbs more water.