June 4, 2018
These "helicopters" are actually seeds from Maple trees, called samaras. Each maple tree seed has its own little wings that allow it to spiral on the wind and plant itself where it lands.
The design of these samaras is amazing!
According to SFGATE, https://homeguides.sfgate.com/maple-trees-drop-helicopters-once-year-97016.html, other species produce samaras, but maple tree samaras fly the best, by far. Their website states that:
"The fact that maple tree seeds fly though the air like little helicopter wings is cool, but the closer you look, the more amazing the design appears. In terms of aerodynamics, the setup is so nearly ideal that it has been the model for scientists developing small flying machines.
Like a tiny angel, the little seed is supported on each side by a huge wing, very light by the time they dry and fall. The wing widens toward the tip so that, as the samara spins, the air over the tip moves faster than the air over the center. This also forms a whirl of air on top of the wing area, lowering the air pressure. Both of these circumstances provide a lift significant enough to keep the seed aloft for a long time.
And the wings help "plant" the seeds once the copter grounds. They keep it upright in the soil, just waiting for a foot, a paw or the weight of snow to push it into the earth, disconnecting the wings at the same time."
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