Folds allow efficient leaf deployment: plants

1 of 1 Silver fern unfurling / vtveen / License

Leaves of plants maximize time exposed for photosynthesis by using various packaging schemes to fold the large leaves within the buds so they can begin photosynthesizing upon deployment.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Modify >
	Adapt/optimize >
	Optimize space/materials

Biomimetic Application Ideas

New packaging design, deployable buildings, awnings, solar sails.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Leaves emerge from their buds in many different ways. Those of the cheese plant emerge tightly rolled, like perfectly furled umbrellas. Palms produce theirs neatly packed in pleats. The big fat buds of rhubarb push up through the ground and burst to reveal their young leaves squashed and crumpled. Ferns send up their shoots curled in the shape of croziers with each of the side fronds curled in its own crozier-in-miniature." (Attenborough 1995: 43-45)

About the inspiring organism

Plantae
Plantae

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

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: New packaging design, deployable buildings, awnings, solar sails.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Packaging, building, textiles

References

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

Folds allow efficient leaf deployment: plants

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