From tree to architecture: how functional morphology of arborescence connects plant biology, evolution and physics

Abstract Trees are the fundamental element of forest ecosystems, made possible by their mechanical qualities and highly sophisticated conductive tissues. The evolution trees, thereby forests, were ecologically transformative affected climate biogeochemical cycles fundamentally. also offer a substantial amount ecological niches for other organisms, such as epiphytes, creating vast habitats. During land plant evolution, variety different tree constructions evolved constructional principles subject ongoing research. Understanding “natural construction” trees benefits strongly from methods approaches physics engineering. Plant water transport is good example demand interdisciplinary efforts to unravel form-function relationships on vastly differing scales. Identification unique mechanism long-distance requires solid basis interfacial thermodynamics. Studying functions using theoretical is, however, not one-sided affair: complex interrelationships between traits, functionality, trade-offs phylogeny inspire engineers, physicists architects until today.