Mechanism
Hydraulic Limits
TL;DR
Even when competitive pressure would reward further growth, physical limits impose absolute ceilings.
Above approximately 100-130 meters, water column tension in the xylem exceeds what the vascular system can sustain, causing cavitation (air bubbles that break the water column). This is why California redwoods, despite centuries of growth, rarely exceed 115 meters. The primary constraint is hydraulic: gravity plus friction in xylem vessels creates an absolute ceiling.
Business Application of Hydraulic Limits
Even when competitive pressure would reward further growth, physical limits impose absolute ceilings. Organizations similarly face throughput limits on information processing and decision-making that cannot be overcome by effort alone.