Lotuses　could　survive　in　heavy　storms　while　long　and　slender　lotus　stems　have　porous　structure.　12　or　13-wells　cross　section　structure　and　its　distribution　along　lotus　stems　were　identified　by　sampling　random　lotuses　from　nature.　4　bionic　12-wells　structured　bars　and　1　bionic　13-wells　structured　bar　were　fabricated　by　3D　printing　technology　with　toughness　resin.　1　hollow　circular　tube　and　1　hollow　square　tube　were　prepared　for　reference.　All　the　bionic　bars　and　tubes　were　subjected　to　three-point　bending　experiments　and　transverse　loading　experiments　to　investigate　mechanical　properties　referred　to　the　effects　of　cross　section　structures　and　their　axial　gradient　distribution.　The　results　of　the　transverse　loading　experiments　showed　that　the　peak　crushing　force　(PCF)　of　the　13-wells　original　structure　(Os-13w)　was　reduced　by　about　82.46　%　and　the　crushing　force　efficiency　(CFE)　was　increased　by　about　300.00　%　compared　with　the　reference　square　tube.　The　results　of　three-point　bending　experiments　showed　that　the　specific　energy　absorption　(SEA)　and　CFE　of　the　12-wells　original　structure　(Os-13w)　increased　by　about　90.71　%　and　173.33　%,　respectively,　and　the　PCF　decreased　by　about　29.28　%　compared　with　the　reference　circular　tube.　Simulation　of　the　experiments　explained　why　the　bionic　12-wells　structured　bar　had　better　mechanical　performance　than　the　referenced　tubes.　In　addition,　comparisons　are　made　with　some　novel　bionic　structures　of　recent　years.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd