You are here: Home > Things to See and Do > Things to See > Brilliant Branching >
Brilliant Branching
Branching patterns can be seen all around us, from tree branches and lightning to blood vessels. They are often Mother Nature’s preferred method of growth for many organisms because they spread out to cover a large area smoothly and efficiently. For example, the branched structure of a tree allows all its leaves to get the most even and plentiful amount of sunlight possible, also giving it a strong, firm construction. The branching of blood vessels allows the body to pump blood to all areas of the body quickly and evenly.
Most varieties of branching begin with a main shape or ‘stem’ (for example the trunk of a tree), and then sprout off a number of similar but smaller branches, and the process carries on. Some varieties however, like bees building a honeycomb, constantly recreate the same shape side by side, gradually building up a massive formation.
Have a look around you and see how many branching patterns you can find today! They can be seen in river networks, snowflakes, plant and vegetable growth and even spider webs, to name but a few!
Check out the amazing structure of branched blood vessels in our lungs!
Some good web links to try: www.branchingnature.org
