Wiry tangles capture fog: lichens

1 of 2 Lichen / Anita Gould / License

Lichens in the Namib desert capture water from fog due to their wiry, tangled branching structure.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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	Liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Structures that capture and channel water from fog or humid air.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The Namib close to the coast does, however, have one source of moisture that most deserts lack. Almost every day, a fog rolls in from the sea, billowing across the dunes. On slopes where little else can survive, a lichen grows in a great orange carpet. It forms not thin blisters on rocks but bushy structures several inches high. The fog condenses into droplets that hang on the wiry tangled branches and are swiftly absorbed by the fungal partner before the sun is strong enough to evaporate them. The quantity of water captured is miniscule but it is sufficient to enable the algae, held within the fungal threads, to photosynthesise." (Attenborough 1995:264-265)

About the inspiring organism

Lichen
Lichen

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

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Structures that capture and channel water from fog or humid air.

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

References

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

Wiry tangles capture fog: lichens

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