Spiralling upward.
Thin vertical leaves often manifest twist. Perhaps the most prominent example of this is in Typha sp., but such twist is also apparent in Narcissus, Pancratium and many other genera. Such a blade is often referred to as a "spiral leaf". We will indicate the mechanical advantage afforded to the leaf by this arrangement, i.e. that it permits the leaf to achieve a greater height without losing stability, that is bending over due to its own weight. We quantify this gain and show how by a simple experiment it can be shown that the advantage is indeed utilized in nature. Typha domingensis is offered as an example.
Schulgasser
Kalman
K
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Pearlstone Center for Aeronautical Engineering Studies, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel. kalmans@menix.gbu.ac.il
Witztum
Allan
A
D002473:Cell Wall / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008954:Models, Biological; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology*; D032401:Typhaceae / Q000166:cytology