Poplar fluff
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Poplar fluff , "poplar cotton", "poplar wool" or "local cotton" refers to the fibers of the seeds and the pericarp fibers of the poplar fruits . Since these fibers are whirled around in the air in masses like snow on some days , they are also popularly referred to as "poplar snow" or "summer snow". The fibers envelop the seeds and in nature have the task of opening the fruit capsules by swelling when the conditions for germination are good (especially when there is sufficient soil moisture). To do this, they absorb moisture from the air and then dry very quickly in order to carry the seeds through the air over long distances. If the seeds of the poplars have ripened in early summer, there may be strong poplar seed fiber flight.
The seed fibers of the poplars consist of very fine, pure cellulose fibers and have no nitrogen atoms, so they do not contain any proteins; therefore they are hypoallergenic. As the world's finest hollow textile fibers, they have a high level of thermal insulation and a very good ability to absorb and release water vapor. They must possess these properties in order to fulfill the special function described above as fruit openers and flight fibers in nature. Poplar cotton used to be used in the manufacture of fine paper. Some birds use poplar fluff to build nests.
literature
- Lorenz Hübner : History of various local cotton types and their economic use. Orphanage bookshop, Salzburg 1788.
- JG Krünitz : Economic Encyclopedia or general system of the state, city, house and agriculture. 1773 to 1858. Entry of poplar cotton. Entry poplar cotton