The seed-carrying stalk of the linden diaspore ensures autorotating flight

TL;DR

This study reveals that the stalk of linden tree seeds is crucial for enabling autorotating flight, which enhances dispersal efficiency by increasing flight time through vortex-induced lift.

Contribution

It demonstrates the essential role of the seed stalk in autorotation and identifies the stalk length to wing span ratio as a key factor for steady flight.

Findings

Stalk length ratio is critical for autorotation.

Autorotation doubles flight time compared to tumbling.

Flow analysis shows vortices generate lift during autorotation.

Abstract

The dispersal of seeds by wind is one of the most evolved mechanisms plants use to invade new territories. Linden trees grow diaspores with a curved bract acting as a wing, where the seed pods are connected underneath by a stalk. Besides the seed-carrying capacity, the other functions of the stalk remain unknown. We demonstrate that the stalk of linden (genus Tilia L.) diaspores plays an essential role in their flight. The stalk length to wing span ratio is found to be the key parameter for facilitating steady autorotating flight in Tilia x europaea diaspores, effectively doubling their flight time compared to an unsteady tumbling motion. Flight experiments with biological and synthetic diaspores reveal a critical stalk length needed to induce autorotation, which correlates with analysis of collected biological samples and points to a possible evolutionarily selected trait. Flow measurements show that the vortical structures around the curved wing cause the elevated lift force during the autorotating flight.