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Dry in the Water: The Superhydrophobic Water Fern Salvinia – a Model for Biomimetic Surfaces

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Book cover Functional Surfaces in Biology

Abstract

Over millions of years plant surfaces evolved optimized complex multifunctional interfaces. They fulfill different functions in terrestrial plants such as limitation of uncontrolled water loss, protection against various biotic and abiotic influences, and they play a role in the attachment of insects. A recent overview on plant surface functions is presented by Jeffree (in Riederer, 2006). One of the most remarkable functions is closely linked with plant epicuticular waxes. The outermost barrier is formed by a cuticle consisting of two major components: a polyester matrix with embedded and overlaying lipids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany

    Zdenek Cerman, Boris F. Striffler & Wilhelm Barthlott

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  1. Zdenek Cerman
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  2. Boris F. Striffler
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  3. Wilhelm Barthlott
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Correspondence to Zdenek Cerman .

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  1. Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, D-24098, Kiel, Germany

    Stanislav N. Gorb

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Cerman, Z., Striffler, B.F., Barthlott, W. (2009). Dry in the Water: The Superhydrophobic Water Fern Salvinia – a Model for Biomimetic Surfaces. In: Gorb, S.N. (eds) Functional Surfaces in Biology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6697-9_7

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