Abstract

The aerial part of a tree can be understood as the solution to a challenging engineering problem: constructing a mechanically stable structure that is as light as possible while maximizing access to sunlight. To meet these requirements, trees grow by producing “units” of similar size at each step. Paradoxically, this process results in a self-similar architecture, with branches that are statistically shorter and thinner near the foliage. Since branches cannot extend in length from year to year, this hierarchy emerges from the aggregation of individual branches and the shedding of lateral ones. Consequently, a tree’s architecture reflects a complex growth strategy and history. In this seminar, I will present a model designed to shed light on these underlying mechanisms