Meeting Abstract
Pitcher plants do not just solve physical problems – they use physics to solve one of the most existential problems in nature: finding food. Every single part of their pitfall traps is adapted to make the most of gravity. Anti-adhesive wax crystals line the inside of the trap. The collar-shaped trap rim is decorated with an elaborate pattern of microscopic ridges, grooves and steps, and turns into a deadly slide for insects when it is wetted by rain or dew. In some species, even the roof-like pitcher lid is modified into a rain-powered springboard that catapults insects into the fluid-filled trap below. The diversity and high level of perfection of their anti-adhesive surfaces means that pitcher plants have become a model for biomechanical research and an inspiration for the development of biomimetic functional surfaces. This talk summarizes the current state of research and gives an outlook on open questions and future directions.
