BRANCHING OF TREES

DISCOVERY
Tree branches will grow to give the most leaves the most
light, even if that means growing sideways. Trees need light
for photosynthesis, which is how green plants generate their
energy.
There are other factors that affect the way branches grow as
well. Gravity pulls the branches downward. And branch
growth is affected by the wind. Part of the trade-off any tree
has to make is between gathering light, staying stable in the
wind, and succeeding against nearby competitors. So when
branches grow crookedly, that’s part of a tree’s overall
survival strategy.
Trees have sensors that detect light and gravity. From the
moment a tree begins its life, it knows which end is up. Trees
will generally attempt to grow toward the light and away from
gravitational pull. But, as a tree gets older, its branches tend
to grow more outwards than upwards. That’s so the tree can
cast a wider net to catch the light of the sun.
 DISCOVERY
Branching is a significant characteristic in trees.

Most conifers form a well-defined dominant trunk

with smaller lateral branches (excurrent branching).

Many angiosperms show for some part of their

development a well-defined central axis, which then
divides continually to form a crown of branches of
similar dimensions (deliquescent branching). This
can be found in many oaks, the honey locust
(Gleditsia triacanthos), the silver linden (Tilia
tomentosa), and the American elm (Ulmus
americana).

The palms illustrate the third major tree form,

columnar, in which the central axis develops
without branching until the apex of the bole.
MECHANISM
Branching is of two types :
● explosion
● spiral
Explosion has larger total length but shorter
average length. i.e greater length to connect the
dots, but connections are more direct.

Spiral is short, but connects the points in a circuit

(good for museums). note: check fl wright and
corbusier's spiral
spiral not suitable for trees as it must transport
nutrients between its central trunk and outermost
leaves along a reasonably direct path, explosion
minimizes travel distance between center and each
outlying point but the total of all travel distance is
enormous.
● Geometric properties in abstract patterns of lines and dots aid understanding
of natural form.
● Many factors determine the branching pattern and a variety of factors interact
with one another in a complicated fashion.
● Leopold generated branching pattern from random numbers that resembled
natural river patterns.
● Hortons analysis method was performed to make a compassion.
● A stream system consists of first- , second- ,third- order streams and so forth
according the rule that a higher order stream can be fed by lower order stream.
● streams of one order turn out three to 5 times as numerous as streams of the
next highest order.
● 89 represents 86 without any tributaries
● 24- first order 6- second order 2- third order branches
● A formal tendency found in this pattern shows that river of higher order tend
to be longer than those of lower order
● Through this, Horton found this formula,
L=1.4A^2/3
L=Length of main river channel, A= drainage area
Factor varies between 1 and 2.5
STRATEGY
Modular trees

Trees grow in repetitive or modular manner

Starting with a unit,largest being ‘Y’ with a branching angle, and add
similar but smaller units ,with the bifurcation ratio being 2

Using asymmetrical units we can generate a frame with bifurcation

ratio of 3.

We can also generate frames with a bifurcation ratio 4.

The number on each contour indicates how many branches

connect.

In 102 a it grows in geometric pattern

In 102b, in the fibonacci series

ABSTRACTED PRINCIPLE
The shortest time taken for the nutrients to
move from the roots to the end of a stem. The
efficient distribution achieved with minimal
time. Use of the 120 degree angle at nodes,
makes the transportation of nutrients faster.
Some examples where distribution can be
made efficient :
Soil waste management
Distribution of water
Looking at a larger context,
We could make deliveries of online retail
more efficient using the distribution
pattern.
WHITE FRANGIPANI
https://earthsky.org/earth/tree-branch-growth-direction

https://www.britannica.com/science/branching-shoot-system