Scientists Disprove Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Rule of Trees'

A new study has debunked Leonardo da Vinci's "Rule of Trees," which posited that the thickness of a tree branch or trunk equaled the combined thickness of all the limbs branching off it. Plant scientists have found that this ratio does not hold up on a microscopic level, particularly in relation to the sizing of internal water transport channels. The researchers propose a revised model that suggests vascular channels widen as branches thin towards the tops of trees to maintain water flow, while also economizing carbon usage. The findings could aid in estimating tree biomass and carbon capture, as well as improving our understanding of plant systems and vulnerability to climate change.