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Hygroscopic motions of fossil conifer cones

Conifer cones represent natural, woody compliant structures which move their scales as passive responses to changes in environmental humidity. Here we report on water-driven opening and closing motions in coalified conifer cones from the Eemian Interglacial (approx. 126,000-113,000 years BP) and fro...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Poppinga, Simon (Author) , Reible, Bruno (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 11 January 2017
In: Scientific reports
Year: 2017, Volume: 7
ISSN:2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep40302
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep40302
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep40302
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Author Notes:Simon Poppinga, Nikolaus Nestle, Andrea Šandor, Bruno Reible, Tom Masselter, Bernd Bruchmann & Thomas Speck
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Summary:Conifer cones represent natural, woody compliant structures which move their scales as passive responses to changes in environmental humidity. Here we report on water-driven opening and closing motions in coalified conifer cones from the Eemian Interglacial (approx. 126,000-113,000 years BP) and from the Middle Miocene (approx. 16.5 to 11.5 million years BP). These cones represent by far the oldest documented evidence of plant parts showing full functionality of such passive hydraulically actuated motion. The functional resilience of these structures is far beyond the biological purpose of seed dispersal and protection and is because of a low level of mineralization of the fossils. Our analysis emphasizes the functional-morphological integrity of these biological compliant mechanisms which, in addition to their biological fascination, are potentially also role models for resilient and maintenance-free biomimetic applications (e.g., adaptive and autonomously moving structures including passive hydraulic actuators).
Item Description:Gesehen am 23.10.2018
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep40302

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