| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annals of Botany 72: 123-127, 1993
© 1993 Annals of Botany Company
The Mechanics of the Flower Stem of the Sedge Carex acutiformis
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
The mechanics of the triangular stems of Carex acutiformis was investigated by subjecting sections to bending and torsional tests. The stem was rigid in bending, being stiffened peripherally by lignified material around the vascular bundles, but because of its triangular shape it was vulnerable to local buckling. Despite being and narrow the stem was able to support the seed head, though it sagged appreciably towards the tip. In contrast the stem had very low torsional rigidity, both because of its triangular shape because the strands of lignified material were isolated from each other. In its lowland habitat this allows the drooping stem to twist away from the light winds, so reducing drag and the chances of self-fertilization. This method of reconfiguring is not possible in the shorter, stiffer mountain sedges which must withstand higher winds; many therefore have more circular stems which will be more efficient at resisting bending.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press
Carex acutiformis, sedge, mechanics, bending, torsion
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C. Vernescu and P. Ryser Constraints on leaf structural traits in wetland plants Am. J. Botany, June 1, 2009; 96(6): 1068 - 1074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Isnard and N. P. Rowe The climbing habit in palms: Biomechanics of the cirrus and flagellum Am. J. Botany, December 1, 2008; 95(12): 1538 - 1547. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. A. Etnier and P. J. Villani Differences in mechanical and structural properties of surface and aerial petioles of the aquatic plant Nymphaea odorata subsp. tuberosa (Nymphaeaceae) Am. J. Botany, July 1, 2007; 94(7): 1067 - 1072. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. L. Harder, C. L. Hurd, and T. Speck Comparison of mechanical properties of four large, wave-exposed seaweeds Am. J. Botany, October 1, 2006; 93(10): 1426 - 1432. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Read and A. Stokes Plant biomechanics in an ecological context Am. J. Botany, October 1, 2006; 93(10): 1546 - 1565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. M. GOODMAN Mechanical Adaptations of Cleavers (Galium aparine) Ann. Bot., February 1, 2005; 95(3): 475 - 480. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. A. Etnier Twisting and Bending of Biological Beams: Distribution of Biological Beams in a Stiffness Mechanospace Biol. Bull., August 1, 2003; 205(1): 36 - 46. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. A. Etnier Flexural and Torsional Stiffness in Multi-Jointed Biological Beams Biol. Bull., February 1, 2001; 200(1): 1 - 8. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A.R. Ennos, H-Ch. Spatz, and T. Speck The functional morphology of the petioles of the banana, Musa textilis J. Exp. Bot., December 1, 2000; 51(353): 2085 - 2093. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|