Tree Design: Some Biological Solutions to Mechanical Problems
- 1 May 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in BioScience
- Vol. 29 (5) , 293-298
- https://doi.org/10.2307/1307825
Abstract
Trees are growing towers (the shoot system) supporting solar collectors (leaves). Shoots can adjust their stiffness to main lain constant maximum bending strains. By efficient distribution of wood they reduce shoot breakage. Shoots can generate internal bending moments to bend themselves to new positions for better leaf display or height growth.This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
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