{"id":38901,"date":"2024-05-22T14:47:23","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T12:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/297f9246-a5e2-4412-a7fe-ddaa0f6e93b3"},"modified":"2024-05-22T15:36:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T13:36:56","slug":"what-is-the-lotus-effect-discover-how-this-beautiful-plant-naturally-cleans-itself","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/what-is-the-lotus-effect-discover-how-this-beautiful-plant-naturally-cleans-itself\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the lotus effect? Discover how this beautiful plant naturally cleans itself"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learn all about the lotus effect and how this remarkable plant has inspired inspired innovations in technology and science. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 22 May 2024 at 12:47 PM<\/p>

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What is the lotus?<\/h2>

The lotus flower is an exquisitely beautiful plant native to South and East Asia. It is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, for whom it symbolises enlightenment, and also the national flower of India and Vietnam. <\/p>

\u00a0The lotus is a rare example of a plant that can regulate its temperature. The flowers generate heat internally and can reach 20\u00b0C above the air temperature, which may help the plant attract insect pollinators.<\/p>

What is the lotus effect?<\/h2>

That, though, is not the lotus effect. The term lotus effect describes the spectacular water-repellent and self-cleaning properties of the lotus plant’s leaves.<\/p>

Like other plants, the lotus takes in carbon dioxide and emits oxygen via minuscule pores called stomata. In most plants, these are on the leaves\u2019 underside, where they are protected from being blocked by rain or airborne dust. <\/p>

But the underside of a floating leaf is not exposed to the air, so the lotus\u2019s stomata have been relocated to the top, which is kept clean and dry thanks to the leaves\u2019 microscopic surface texture, which was discovered following the development of the electron microscope.<\/p>

Finger-like projections, each less than 10-millionths of a metre thick, minimise the area of contact between the leaf and any surface water, causing it to form beads rather than spread out evenly. The effect is amplified by clusters of even smaller fingers of water-repellent wax. The slightest disturbance is enough to cause the droplets to roll off the leaf, taking dust, dirt, fungal spores and algal growths<\/a> with them.<\/p>

This surface texture gives lotus leaves a matt, velvety appearance, which is characteristic of other hydrophobic plants such as nasturtiums, ginkgo trees and lady\u2019s mantle. The effect is also a feature of insect wings<\/a> and the skin of some geckos.\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0The lotus effect has inspired the development of synthetic self-cleaning textiles and low-friction swimming costumes. There are also ambitions to engrave the hulls of boats with lotus-like micro-textures to reduce drag and prevent the attachment of encrusting organisms.\u00a0<\/p>

Perhaps this unusual plant is worthy of a place on our weirdest plants in the world<\/a> list?<\/p>

Learn more fascinating plant facts<\/strong><\/p>