Abstract
The leaves of Typha are noteworthy in terms of their mechanical properties. We determined the mechanical properties of the fiber cables within the leaf. We found that in vegetative plants, the lignified fiber cables isolated from the leaf sheath and nonlignified fiber cables isolated from the leaf blade of Typha angustifolia differ in their diameter, swelling capacity, Young’s modulus, tensile strength, and break load. These differing properties are related to their contributions to stability in the two regions of the leaf.
References
Célino A, Fréour S, Jacquemin F, Casari P (2014) The hygroscopic behavior of plant fibers: a review. Front Chem 1:43. doi:10.3389/fchem.2013.00043
Eriksson I, Haglind I, Lidbrandt O, Salmén L (1991) Fiber swelling favoured by lignin softening. Wood Sci Technol 25:135–144
Gibson LJ (2012) The hierarchical structure and mechanics of plant materials. J R Soc Interface. doi:10.1098/rsif.2012.0341
Kaul RB (1974) Ontogeny of foliar diaphragms in Typha latifolia. Am J Bot 61:318–323
McLean RC, Ivimey Cook WR (1941) Plant science formulae. Macmillan, London
Niklas KJ (1992) Plant biomechanics: an engineering approach to plant form and function. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Rowlatt U, Morshead H (1992) Architecture of the leaf of the greater reed mace, Typha latifolia L. Bot J Linn Soc 110:161–170
Schulgasser K, Witztum A (2004) Spiraling upward. J Theor Biol 230:275–280
Seago JL Jr, Marsh LC (1989) Adventitious root development in Typha glauca, with emphasis on the cortex. Am J Bot 76:909–923
Teale EW (1949) The strength of the cattail. Nat Hist 58:404–407
Witztum A, Wayne R (2014) Fibre cables in the lacunae of Typha leaves contribute to a tensegrity structure. Ann Bot 113:789–797
Witztum A, Wayne R (2015) Variation in fiber cables in the lacunae of leaves in hybrid swarms of Typha x glauca. Aquat Bot 124:39–44
Acknowledgements
We thank Karl Niklas for the discussion, suggestions, and the use of the Instron.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Additional information
Handling Editor: Alexander Schulz
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Witztum, A., Wayne, R. Lignified and nonlignified fiber cables in the lacunae of Typha angustifolia . Protoplasma 253, 1589–1592 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-015-0912-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-015-0912-4