Re: lotus effect with Colocasia fallax

Dear Genevieve,

 A good scienitfic information is following articel: "Koch, K, Bhushan, B, and W. Barthlott.2008. Diversity of structure, morphology and wetting of plant surfaces. Soft Matter 4: 1943-1963."

There is also many further information in the internet.

The lotus effect describes a type of plant surface that consists of convex to papillate cells which are covered with an epicuticular wax layer (wax is highly hydrophobic).
The papillate cells are often covering hte whole leave, but it is also possible, that you have some larger papillae and in between smaller ones or flat cells.
The wax layer of water repellent surfaces can have different structures, but as a rule it is not flat but in some way sculptured (rodlets, platelets, etc).
This structure leads to a very high contact angle of water on the surface - this means that the real contact between a water droplet and the leaf surface is very small. So the water droplet cannot attach on the leave and roles of easily.
The structure can be observed best under Scanning Electron Microscope.
The main function is to keep the leave clean, as the water will wash of dirt etc. In addition, the leaves remains dry, as the water cannot stay, which makes it more difficult for mosses, lichens and other organisms to grow on the leave.

If you want any further informations, just tell me.

Yours,
David



From: jpcferry2@wanadoo.fr
To: aroid-l@www.gizmoworks.com
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:47:18 +0100
Subject: [Aroid-l] lotus effect with Colocasia fallax

Dear aroiders ,
 
Today, three students came looking leaves Colocasia fallax to understand the phenomenon of superhydrobicity (lotus effect).
Do you have information on this phenomenon?
(Experience, etc. ....)
 
Thank you for your help.
 
Best wishes ,
 
Geneviève Ferry

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