Underwater roots get oxygen: giant water-lily

The leaves of Amazon water lilies transport oxygen to the plants' roots in swampy bottoms using long tubes that run down their stems.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Move or stay put >
	Move >
	In gases

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Aeration strategies for open ponds.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The Amazon water-lily is able to produce such large and strong structures because it can collect an abundance of food through its roots from the mud at the bottom of the lake. But roots need to breathe and the mud at the bottom of Amazonian swamps and pools contains little or no oxygen. The lily, however, pipes air down to them through tubes running down the long stems of the leaves, which may be as much as 35 feet long." (Attenborough 1995:290-291)

About the inspiring organism

Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaeaceae

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Aeration strategies for open ponds.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Water storage

References

Attenborough, D. 1995. The Private Life of Plants: A Natural History of Plant Behavior. London: BBC Books. 320 p.

Underwater roots get oxygen: giant water-lily

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