Failure without Tears: Two-Step Attachment in a Climbing Cactus
Climbing plants can be extremely adaptable to diverse habitats and capable of colonising perturbed, unstructured, and even moving environments. The timing of the attachment process, whether instantaneous (e.g., a pre-formed hook) or slow (growth process), crucially depends on the environmental conte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Biomimetics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/8/2/220 |
| _version_ | 1797595907791781888 |
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| author | Nick P. Rowe Lily Cheng Clavel Patricia Soffiatti |
| author_facet | Nick P. Rowe Lily Cheng Clavel Patricia Soffiatti |
| author_sort | Nick P. Rowe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climbing plants can be extremely adaptable to diverse habitats and capable of colonising perturbed, unstructured, and even moving environments. The timing of the attachment process, whether instantaneous (e.g., a pre-formed hook) or slow (growth process), crucially depends on the environmental context and the evolutionary history of the group concerned. We observed how spines and adhesive roots develop and tested their mechanical strength in the climbing cactus <i>Selenicereus setaceus</i> (Cactaceae) in its natural habitat. Spines are formed on the edges of the triangular cross-section of the climbing stem and originate in soft axillary buds (areoles). Roots are formed in the inner hard core of the stem (wood cylinder) and grow via tunnelling through soft tissue, emerging from the outer skin. We measured maximal spine strength and root strength via simple tensile tests using a field measuring Instron device. Spine and root strengths differ, and this has a biological significance for the support of the stem. Our measurements indicate that the measured mean strength of a single spine could theoretically support an average force of 2.8 N. This corresponds to an equivalent stem length of 2.62 m (mass of 285 g). The measured mean strength of root could theoretically support an average of 13.71 N. This corresponds to a stem length of 12.91 m (mass of 1398 g). We introduce the notion of two-step attachment in climbing plants. In this cactus, the first step deploys hooks that attach to a substrate; this process is instantaneous and is highly adapted for moving environments. The second step involves more solid root attachment to the substrate involving slower growth processes. We discuss how initial fast hook attachment can steady the plant on supports allowing for the slower root attachment. This is likely to be important in wind-prone and moving environmental conditions. We also explore how two-step anchoring mechanisms are of interest for technical applications, particularly for soft-bodied artefacts, which must safely deploy hard and stiff materials originating from a soft compliant body. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:44:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1a7c9862960496a9af06ad27e8fb10c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2313-7673 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:44:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomimetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1a7c9862960496a9af06ad27e8fb10c2023-11-18T09:29:24ZengMDPI AGBiomimetics2313-76732023-05-018222010.3390/biomimetics8020220Failure without Tears: Two-Step Attachment in a Climbing CactusNick P. Rowe0Lily Cheng Clavel1Patricia Soffiatti2AMAP, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, 34398 Montpellier, FranceAMAP, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, 34398 Montpellier, FranceDepartment of Botany, Federal University of Parana State (UFPR), Curitiba CEP81531-990, BrazilClimbing plants can be extremely adaptable to diverse habitats and capable of colonising perturbed, unstructured, and even moving environments. The timing of the attachment process, whether instantaneous (e.g., a pre-formed hook) or slow (growth process), crucially depends on the environmental context and the evolutionary history of the group concerned. We observed how spines and adhesive roots develop and tested their mechanical strength in the climbing cactus <i>Selenicereus setaceus</i> (Cactaceae) in its natural habitat. Spines are formed on the edges of the triangular cross-section of the climbing stem and originate in soft axillary buds (areoles). Roots are formed in the inner hard core of the stem (wood cylinder) and grow via tunnelling through soft tissue, emerging from the outer skin. We measured maximal spine strength and root strength via simple tensile tests using a field measuring Instron device. Spine and root strengths differ, and this has a biological significance for the support of the stem. Our measurements indicate that the measured mean strength of a single spine could theoretically support an average force of 2.8 N. This corresponds to an equivalent stem length of 2.62 m (mass of 285 g). The measured mean strength of root could theoretically support an average of 13.71 N. This corresponds to a stem length of 12.91 m (mass of 1398 g). We introduce the notion of two-step attachment in climbing plants. In this cactus, the first step deploys hooks that attach to a substrate; this process is instantaneous and is highly adapted for moving environments. The second step involves more solid root attachment to the substrate involving slower growth processes. We discuss how initial fast hook attachment can steady the plant on supports allowing for the slower root attachment. This is likely to be important in wind-prone and moving environmental conditions. We also explore how two-step anchoring mechanisms are of interest for technical applications, particularly for soft-bodied artefacts, which must safely deploy hard and stiff materials originating from a soft compliant body.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/8/2/220climbing cactusspine and root strengthtwo-step attachmentbenign failuresoft robotic technologiesslow-fast processes |
| spellingShingle | Nick P. Rowe Lily Cheng Clavel Patricia Soffiatti Failure without Tears: Two-Step Attachment in a Climbing Cactus Biomimetics climbing cactus spine and root strength two-step attachment benign failure soft robotic technologies slow-fast processes |
| title | Failure without Tears: Two-Step Attachment in a Climbing Cactus |
| title_full | Failure without Tears: Two-Step Attachment in a Climbing Cactus |
| title_fullStr | Failure without Tears: Two-Step Attachment in a Climbing Cactus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Failure without Tears: Two-Step Attachment in a Climbing Cactus |
| title_short | Failure without Tears: Two-Step Attachment in a Climbing Cactus |
| title_sort | failure without tears two step attachment in a climbing cactus |
| topic | climbing cactus spine and root strength two-step attachment benign failure soft robotic technologies slow-fast processes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/8/2/220 |
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