English: According to a display at the San Francisco Exploratorium, tiny surface structures make these nasturtium leaves water-resistant.

The uneven surface creates air pockets between water and leaf, so water rolls right off, taking dirt with it. Research on such small-scale surfaces has inspired revolutionary new materials, including water-resistant fabrics.

This photo was taken near Sutro Bath ruins in San Francisco, close to the Cliff House at the North End of Ocean Beach. It is an example of biomimicry. For more on biomimicry and other examples of innovation inspired by nature, Google or Bing or find other ways to find videos by Janine Benyus. Or, just visit the Biomimicry Institute homepage:

biomimicryinstitute.org/about-us/what-is-biomimicry.html