Fig. 3.

Impact behaviour of a water drop (volume=50 µl, speed ~3ms^–1) on three different leaves. (A) Leaf surface hydrophobic (winter honeysuckle, Lonicera fragrantissima). The drop splashes and breaks up into smaller droplets which bounce off the surface. Some drops are decelerated enough to adhere to the surface. (B) Leaf surface hydrophilic (Chinese veil, Veronicastrum latifolium). The drop spreads and partly runs off as the leaf is tilted downward following the impact. The water residue is visible as a continuous wet area. (C) Leaf surface with trichomes (bramble, Rubus sp.). The drop spreads and breaks up irregularly (‘fingering’).