Biomechanics and Functional Anatomy of Hollow Stemmed Sphenopsids: III. Equisetum hyemale

Abstract

Abstract:As in Equisetum giganteum, the hollow stem of Equisetum hyemale owes the mechanical stability of the internodes to an outer ring of strengthening tissue (hypodermal sterome) which provides stiffness and strength in the longitudinal direction. In contrast to hollow‐stemmed grasses, the hypodermal sterome consists of living cells. The compound inner tissue of the overwintering aerial stem of Equisetum hyemale includes a continuous inner and outer endodermis layer of vital thick‐walled cells that have slightly lignified Casparian thickenings. The two endodermis layers provide an inner tension and compression bracing which lend resistance to local buckling. The stress‐strain relation in longitudinal tension is biphasic with remarkably high critical strains especially in the upper parts of the stem. Scraping off part of the epidermis with the built‐in silicate does not change this behaviour, except in the initial steep part of the curve where the Young's modulus is reduced by 20%. No contribution of the endodermis and the parenchyma could be detected in tension tests of longitudinally‐oriented strips. Relaxation experiments reveal viscoelastic behaviour. As with the biphasic stress‐strain relation and the critical strains, the viscoelastic properties have largely to be ascribed to the hypodermal sterome.