Almost five centuries ago, a milestone in history occurred: Leonardo da Vinci developed the iconic “Rule of Trees” to guide how to draw trees accurately.
This rule was adopted by science to model and understand how trees function. However, researchers recently discovered that it may not be applicable to the internal structures of trees.
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What does the rule say
Da Vinci's rule describes the proportions that must be followed when drawing a tree to obtain an accurate representation.
He observed that “all the branches of a tree, at every stage of their height, are equal in thickness to the trunk when placed together.”
(Image: Wikicommons/reproduction)
For a long time, science also applied this rule to the theory of metabolic scaling, which deals with the channels that transport water through the tree, from the roots to the leaves.
According to this theory, the vascular channels would decrease in size at the same rate as the branches become narrower.
However, a recent study published in the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”, carried out by researchers at Bangor University, in United Kingdom, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), demonstrated that the tree rule does not apply to the internal vascular structures of trees.
So that water and other nutrients are transported efficiently through the internal channels of the tree, It is necessary for the system to maintain hydraulic resistance, which implies certain channel dimensions.
The researchers calculated that the volume of the channels should decrease as they approach the ends of the tree, resulting in greater capillarity in relation to the surrounding plant mass.
These new ratios refine the theory of metabolic scaling and deepen our understanding of the plant vascular system.
Furthermore, they allow us to understand why larger trees are more susceptible to drought and the impacts of climate change.
Although Leonardo da Vinci's rule of trees remains a valuable tip for artists, its applicability is limited. limits to the macro level, leaving science with the challenge of unraveling the secrets of the intricate internal structures of trees.
Ruben Valbuena, co-author of the study, highlighted that, in addition to improving our understanding of how trees function, the research aims to provide a more accurate proportion of vascular channels.
This will help scientists estimate biomass and carbon retained in forests, contributing to the global calculation of carbon capture by forests. plants.
