Beautiful Drops — 12 Examples of Guttation (13 photos)

Guttation is the secretion of droplets of sap (xylem) at the tips or edges of the leaves of some vascular plants, such as grasses. However, guttation should not be confused with dew, which condenses from the atmosphere on the surface of plants.

We present a selection of extraordinary examples of natural droplets resulting from guttation—a fascinating natural phenomenon.







Guttation (from the Latin gutta, "drop") is the process of water removal in the form of liquid droplets on the surface of a plant by hydathodes. (Author: Luc Viatour)





Evaporation does not occur at night because the stomata (pores found in leaves, stems, and other organs used for gas exchange) of most plants are closed. (Author: RUTH JENSEN)



When soil moisture levels are high, water infiltrates plant roots because the root water potential is lower than the soil water potential. (Author: NOAH ELHARDT)



Water accumulates in the plant, creating slight pressure at the roots. (Author: TANAKAWHO)



Root pressure causes water to be released through special openings at the tips of the leaves (hydathodes or water glands), forming droplets. (Author: URSULA ROSEEU)



Root pressure (osmotic pressure in the cells of the root system, which drives the movement of plant sap from the roots to the leaves) ensures this movement, preventing immediate evaporation of water from the roots. (Author: Hanson59)



Low light and high humidity promote guttation. (Author: Dohduhdah)



Guttation is quite common in many tropical rainforest plants and is often observed at the leaf tips of young seedlings. (Author: Ies)



(Author: AlexRK)



(Author: nz_willowherb)



(Author: JOHN PETRANKA)



(Author: LUC VIATOUR)