Observations on Tree Branching Patterns

Leonardo da Vinci's observation that 'all the branches of a tree at every stage of its height when put together are equal in thickness to the trunk below them' was the first documented discovery of fractal branching in nature. He measured cross-sectional area and found trunk area equals sum of branches area, preserved at every bifurcation.

This principle, confirmed by modern ecologists, demonstrates that fractal branching is near-optimal for balancing light capture (maximize branch surface area) vs. mechanical stability (minimize branch failure risk) vs. hydraulic efficiency (minimize resistance to water transport). The discovery applies directly to organizational design: self-similar structures with consistent rules at every scale.