Why does water trickle off lotus leaves? Why don't the leaves of these plants rot in water?
Answers
Some plant leaves can't get wet or grimy. Lotus plants have superhydrophobic surfaces. Water drops that fall onto them dab up and move off. These leaves remain dry, as well as the beads get little particles of dirt as they move so that the lotus leaves are even self-cleaning.
The leaves of aquatic plants are well adapted to withstand the wet conditions of the water. Most of their leaves have waxy coatings on them so that water is not absorbed by them. ... For these reasons the leaves of the aquatic plants do not rot in water.
Answer:
1. Some plant leaves just can't get wet or dirty! Lotus plants have super hydrophobic surfaces. Water drops that fall onto them bead up and roll off. These leaves not only stay dry, but the droplets pick up small particles of dirt as they roll, so that the lotus leaves are even self-cleaning.
2. Most of their leaves have waxy coatings on them so that water is not absorbed by them. Some of them like Lotus, also contains thick layer of cuticle which helps them to withstand the moist condition. For these reasons the leaves of the aquatic plants do not rot in water.