Dear Pankaj, If the tendril belongs to *Ampelocissus *(for e.g.) then it will bear an inflorescence of several small flowers. Since the tendrils are very close to the flowers, I thought they may help in attracting insect pollinators by their fluorescence or UV light.
This is just an 'hypothesis'. It will be fine even if it is proved wrong... :) If it is proved right, then it will become a 'theory' (!). Regards Vijayasankar Raman National Center for Natural Products Research University of Mississippi On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 5:25 PM, Pankaj Kumar <[email protected]>wrote: > Dear Vijay > I was thinking, why will a tendril attract a guest? Is their any such > example in other plant? > Pankaj > > > > On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 12:46 AM, Vijayasankar <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Thanks Gurcharan ji for correcting my technical error. It makes sense > now. > > > > > > Regards > > > > Vijayasankar Raman > > National Center for Natural Products Research > > University of Mississippi > > > > > > On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 10:29 AM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> > > wrote: > >> > >> Just trying to modify Vijayasankar ji's question: > >> > >> "Do the cells in the region contract (elongate/divide slowly as compared > >> to progressively outer portions) so that the tendril continues to make a > >> coil?" > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Dr. Gurcharan Singh > >> Retired Associate Professor > >> SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 > >> Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. > >> Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 > >> http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ > >> > >> > >> On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 9:40 PM, Vijayasankar <[email protected] > > > >> wrote: > >>> > >>> Does the green spot shows the physiological sensitivity of the region? > >>> does the concentration of harmones is more in that particular point? or > >>> does it have fluorescence to attract some guests...? > >>> Do the cells in the region contract so that the tendril continues to > make > >>> a coil? > >>> > >>> only questions come to my mind as I don't know the answer :( > >>> > >>> Regards > >>> > >>> Vijayasankar Raman > >>> National Center for Natural Products Research > >>> University of Mississippi > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 9:26 AM, Dr Pankaj Kumar < > [email protected]> > >>> wrote: > >>>> > >>>> Just some more interesting examples came into my mind on biological > >>>> designs: > >>>> > >>>> Vespa (scooter) - is for hornet > >>>> Volkswagen Beetle - Beetle > >>>> > >>>> :) > >>>> Pankaj > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> On Jan 10, 7:14 pm, Adittya Dharap <[email protected]> wrote: > >>>> > > >>>> > Dear All, > >>>> > > >>>> > I do not have answer to the question Shrikant ji has put forth. But > I > >>>> > would like to add few things related to this topic. > >>>> > It is related to Biomimicry – drawing inspiration from nature for > >>>> > solving our day to day problems. I have been working on an article > named > >>>> > ‘Inspiration from Nature’ and this is currently given for > publication. I > >>>> > will share once it is published. But in the meanwhile would like to > share > >>>> > few things. > >>>> > Biomimicry would be key word in future engineering where engineers > >>>> > would turn to nature for solutions (In past humans have always been > drawing > >>>> > inspiration from nature – birds x aeroplane for example). This is > because > >>>> > ‘Mother Nature’ is an extremely good designer. Precise, highly > function > >>>> > centric, efficient, frugal and regenerative! These are necessarily > important > >>>> > qualities both product designer and his product should possess. > >>>> > The involute profile Shrikant ji has mentioned is the most important > >>>> > profile in the mechanical world – the profile that actually drives > the world > >>>> > efficiently. > >>>> > There is so much of data available on internet on Biomimicry. There > >>>> > are several more examples – baby carriers x kangaroo pouch, welcro > x seed > >>>> > dispersal systems, humanoid robotic arm x human limb, barbed wire x > >>>> > thorns etc. > >>>> > > >>>> > There are several product design houses that have started bringing > >>>> > biologists to design table. Product Designers – Engineers – > Biologists > >>>> > cross-pollinate to design a good product! So in future a product > designer > >>>> > with a good aptitude in natural processes and forms will have an > edge other. > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > Adittya > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > --- On Tue, 1/10/12, Shrikant Ingalhalikar <[email protected]> > >>>> > wrote: > >>>> > > >>>> > From: Shrikant Ingalhalikar <[email protected]> > >>>> > Subject: [efloraofindia:103577] Involute-Geometry in Plants > >>>> > To: "indiantreepix " <[email protected]> > >>>> > Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 3:59 PM > >>>> > > >>>> > Involute, an engineer's perspective of perfectly geometric shapes > >>>> > found in plants. This feature is specific to a particular plant. I > am sure > >>>> > many will be able to guess the ID. Can someone brief about the > speciality of > >>>> > the tissues at the green inner surface? Regards, > >>>> > > >>>> > Shrikant Ingalhalikar > >>>> > 12 Varshanand Society > >>>> > Anandnagar Sinhagad Road > >>>> > Pune 411 051.www.idsahyadri.com > >>>> > Tel 91 20 2435 0765. > >>>> > Fax 91 20 2438 9190. > >>>> > > >>>> > Follow Rediff Deal ho jaye! to get exciting offers in your city > >>>> > everyday. > >>> > >>> > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > ********************************************************************** > "Taxonomists getting Extinct and Species Data Deficient !!" > > > Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) > Conservation Officer > > Office: > Orchid Conservation Section > Flora Conservation Department > Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) Corporation > Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. > > Residence: > 36c, Ng Tung Chai, Lam Tseun > Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. > > email: [email protected] > [email protected] > [email protected] > Phone: +852 2483 7128 (office - 8:30am to 5:30pm) > +852 9436 6251 (mobile) >
