Hydroactuated Configuration Alteration of Fibrous Dandelion Pappi: Toward Self‐Controllable Transport Behavior

Abstract

Stimuli‐responsive materials, especially those inspired by natural organism, have been extensively studied because of their versatile applications. Here, this study demonstrates that the unique hydroactuated reversible configuration alternation of the dandelion pappus, featured by the responsive spatial closing and opening the umbrella‐like pappus depending on the environmental humidity, is a determining factor that allows the pappus to regulate its transport behavior. It is proposed that the anisotropic hydroactuated swelling of tracheids, which are typically arranged with an oblique crossing orientation, helps to generate the directional stress on the pappus. By this strategy, the pappus control its transport behavior in response to the environmental moisture, which allows long‐distance and effective seeds dispersal selectively to local sites for optimal reproduction. Inspired by this, this study develops a hydroresponsive fiber array by integrating the hydrogel, whose configuration can be altered reversibly between the opening and closing state depending on the environmental humidity. This study believes the research can offer inspirations for designing and developing adaptive devices by using fibers array, as smart aerocraft.

Flow dynamics of a dandelion pappus: A linear stability approach

“…[11], we approximate a real pappus, sketched in Fig. 1 [16]) and its effect on the stability results is then studied in the final part of this Rapid Communication by varying it from t = d f to t = 5d f . We define a cylindrical coordinate system (x, r, θ ), the origin of which coincides with the center of the disk, and the x direction is parallel to the inlet velocity.…”

MXene‐Based Humidity‐Responsive Actuators: Preparation and Properties

“…[37] It is worth noting that there are also many uses of humidity in the air to produce movement to achieve the purpose of sowing seeds or predation in nature. For instance, sesame [38] and pine cones [39] could make their shells open to release seeds during the drying process; the opening and closing angle of the radial arrangement of dandelion crown fiber array will increase with the decrease of humidity; [40] morning glory will automatically close at night when the humidity decreases, etc. [14] These natural phenomena bring opportunities for the design and development of humidity-responsive actuators based on different materials, and have guiding significance for promoting the development of humidity-responsive actuators.…”

Dandelion pappus morphing is actuated by radially patterned material swelling

“…This allows the plant to tune dispersal by optimising timing and distances in response to environmental conditions. The dandelion pappus changes shape via a hygroscopic actuator at the apical plate of the achene (fruit) that swells on contact with water [19][20][21] .…”