Xylem conduits transport water: plants

1 of 1 Xylem conduits of Ficus sp / Youssef Bout.. / License

Xylem conduits in plants transport water from soil to leaves through a pulling force generated when water evaporates at the surface of leaves creating a negative pressure gradient.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Use passive mechanism to pump water for storage on roofs for drinking and other uses, or to a height where its decent drives power generating turbines.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The transport system that drives sap ascent from soil to leaves is extraordinary and controversial. More than a century ago, H. H. Dixon (1896) proposed that a pulling force was generated at the evaporative surface of leaves and that this force was transmitted downward through water columns under tension to lift water much like a rope under tension can lift a weight. The cohesion–tension theory (C–T theory), as it is known, supposes both adhesion of water to conduit walls and cohesion of water molecules to each other." (Tyree 2003: 923)

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: Use passive mechanism to pump water for storage on roofs for drinking and other uses, or to a height where its decent drives power generating turbines.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Power generation, water utilities

Experts

Melvin T. Tyree

Tree Physiology Laboratory, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta

References

Tyree, Melvin T. 2003. Plant hydraulics: The ascent of water. Nature. 423(6943): 923-923.

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sorry. I flagged this entry by accident.

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