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Exploration of the application prospects of cattail fibers (CFs) in natural composites, and other fields is important for the sustainable development of new, green, light-weight, functional biomass materials. In this study, the physical and chemical properties, micro/nano structure, and mechanical characteristics of CFs were investigated. The CFs have a low density (618.0 kg m−3). The results of transmission electron microscopy and tensile testing data indicated that the cattail trunk fiber (CTF) bundle is composed of parenchyma cells and solid stone cells, demonstrating high specific modulus (10.1 MPa∙m3·kg−1) and high elongation at break (3.9%). In turn, the cattail branch fiber (CBF) bundle is composed of parenchyma cells with specific "half-honeycomb" shape. The inner diaphragms divide these cells into the open cavities. This structural feature endows the CTF bundles with stable structure, good oil absorption and storage capacities. The chemical component and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses show that the CFs have higher lignin content (20.6%) and wax content (11.5%), which are conducive to the improvement of corrosion resistance, thermal stability and lipophilic–hydrophobic property of CF. Finally, the thermogravimetric analysis indicates that its final degradation temperature is 404.5 °C, which is beneficial to the increase in processability of CFs-reinforced composites. • The cattail fiber (CF) has lower density and multi-cavity structure. • Higher wax content endows CF with lipophilic-hydrophobic potential. • The cattail branch fiber (CBF) has "half-honeycomb" shape and inner diaphragms. • The CBF structural feature gives CF stable structure and good oil storage capacities. • The cattail trunk fiber bundles exhibit excellent mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Luffa vine (LV) is a low-density natural plant fiber with a porous structure. • The secondary wall of LV fiber cell contains two layers with spiral thickening. • Sclerenchyma cell of LV exhibits excellent micromechanical properties. • The microscopic characteristics endow LV with good processability. • The pit pairs on cell walls provide good permeability to LV fibers. The exploration of luffa vine (LV) in the polymer composites field can contribute to the development of lightweight composites and expand their use in new wide scale applications. In this study, the physical and chemical properties and the microstructure of the LV fibers were investigated by various techniques. The results of LV density and microscopic characteristics indicated that this crop is a lightweight (with density mainly concentrated in 0.30–0.45 g cm−3) natural fiber with a porous structure (the ratio of wall to lumen: 0.2–0.3). Transmission electron microscopy and nanoindentation analyses showed that the secondary wall of the LV sclerenchyma cell is made up of two layers with spiral thickening and exhibiting a high nanoindentation modulus (7.8–10.4 GPa) and a high nanoindentation hardness (0.40–0.58 GPa). The chemical composition and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the LV has high lignin content (20–25%) and a relatively high relative crystallinity index of cellulose, which are conducive to increase the hardness of the LV fiber. Moreover, microscopic characteristics analysis also revealed that the LV fiber cells have a relatively high aspect ratio (30.3), there are pit pairs on the LV fiber cell walls, and the core fiber cells of the LV have relatively high flexibility coefficient (0.8), which are beneficial to increase the processability of composite materials with the LV fibers as reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]