A Comparative Analysis of the Mechanical Role of Leaf Sheaths of Poaceae, Juncaceae, and Cyperaceae
Joint Authors
Neinhuis, Christoph
Sommer, Martin
Kempe, Andreas
Source
Issue
Vol. 2013, Issue 2013 (31 Dec. 2013), pp.1-6, 6 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2013-04-11
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
6
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Similarities in structural organization of the culm in Poaceae, Juncaceae, and Cyperaceae such as leaf sheaths and the presence of intercalary meristems at every node suggest the same mechanical properties and, accordingly, the same functionality.
Meristems are zones of tissue formation, which constitute areas of weakness along the entire culm and provide the basis for rapid shoot elongation.
Leaf sheaths clasp the culm preventing the shoot from breaking, ensuring the rigidity to grow erectly and to avoid damage of the meristematic tissue.
The mechanical influence of leaf sheaths was investigated in members of Poaceae, Juncaceae, and Cyperaceae in the flowering stage.
Mechanical properties of Poa araratica, Bromus erectus, Arrhenatherum elatius (Poaceae), Luzula nivea (Juncaceae), and Carex arctata (Cyperaceae) were determined in three-point bending before and after the removal of leaf sheaths.
The presence of leaf sheaths results in smoothing the distribution of flexural rigidity and therefore avoids stress peaks.
The achieved maxima of relative contribution of leaf sheaths to entire flexural rigidity ranged from 55% up to 81% for Poaceae, 72% for C.
arctata, and 40% for L.
nivea.
Across the investigated families, the mechanical role of leaf sheaths could be verified as essential for culm stability during development and beyond.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Kempe, Andreas& Sommer, Martin& Neinhuis, Christoph. 2013. A Comparative Analysis of the Mechanical Role of Leaf Sheaths of Poaceae, Juncaceae, and Cyperaceae. Journal of Botany،Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490835
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Kempe, Andreas…[et al.]. A Comparative Analysis of the Mechanical Role of Leaf Sheaths of Poaceae, Juncaceae, and Cyperaceae. Journal of Botany No. 2013 (2013), pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490835
American Medical Association (AMA)
Kempe, Andreas& Sommer, Martin& Neinhuis, Christoph. A Comparative Analysis of the Mechanical Role of Leaf Sheaths of Poaceae, Juncaceae, and Cyperaceae. Journal of Botany. 2013. Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490835
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-490835