Max Langer

Project

Transition zones between rod-shaped and planar plant structures
In this project, which is funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg as a sub-project of BioElast, I focus on the transition zone between rod-shaped and planar structures. Various foliage leaves serve as biological role models, since they generally consist of a rod-shaped leaf stalk and a planar leaf blade, which are connected by a smooth transition zone. Within a biomimetic bottom-up approach, I first want to gain a better understanding of the morphology, anatomy and biomechanics of these stalk-blade transition zones. My project partners from various scientific disciplines will then transfer this knowledge into technical applications.

First supervisor

Dr. Olga Speck

Publications in livMatS

• Acclimation to wind loads and/or contact stimuli? A biomechanical study of peltate leaves of Pilea peperomioides*
  Langer, M., Hegge, E., Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2022). Acclimation to wind loads and/or contact stimuli? A biomechanical study of peltate leaves of Pilea peperomioides. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73(4): 1236 – 1252. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erab541 (Special issue “Mechanical Ecology - Taking Biomechanics to the Field”)
• Twist-to-Bend Ratios and Safety Factors of Petioles Having Various Geometries, Sizes and Shapes*
  Langer, M., Kelbel, M. C., Speck, T., Müller, C., & Speck, O. (2021) Twist-to-bend ratios and safety factors of petioles having various geometries, sizes and shapes. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2586. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.765605
• Plant-inspired damage control – An inspiration for sustainable solutions in the Anthropocene*
  Speck, O., Langer, M., & Mylo, M. D. (2021). Plant-inspired damage control–An inspiration for sustainable solutions in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene Review. doi: 10.1177/20530196211018489
• Petiole-Lamina Transition Zone: A Functionally Crucial but Often Overlooked Leaf Trait*
  M. Langer, T. Speck, O. Speck (2021): Petiole-lamina transition zone: A functionally crucial but often overlooked leaf trait. Plants 10(4): 774. doi: 10.3390/plants10040774
• The Protective Role of Bark and Bark Fibers of the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) during High-Energy Impacts
  Bold, G., Langer, M., Börnert, L., & Speck, T. (2020). The Protective Role of Bark and Bark Fibers of the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) during High-Energy Impacts. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(9), 3355. doi:10.3390/ijms21093355
• Twist-to-bend ratio: an important selective factor for many rod-shaped biological structures*
  Wolff-Vorbeck, S., Langer, M., Speck, O., Speck, T., & Dondl, P. (2019). Twist-to-bend ratio: an important selective factor for many rod-shaped biological structures. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-52878-z
  
  
  * Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy – EXC-2193/1 – 390951807