image: Maple seeds are attached in pairs to the branch of a maple tree. The seeds dry in the wind and sun up until they are dry enough to be pulled off the tree by a turbulent gust of wind. In the process of being pulled off the tree, the seed-pairs break apart and the individual seeds become airborne. This image accompanied the report "Leading-Edge Vortices Elevate Lift of Autorotating Plant Seeds," by D. Lentink et al. appearing in the June 12, 2009 issue of Science. view more
Credit: Photo courtesy of David Lentink