Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Leaf Shapes and Venation Patterns

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Constructal Law and the Unifying Principle of Design

Part of the book series: Understanding Complex Systems ((UCS))

  • 1389 Accesses

Abstract

Plant life is fuelled by solar radiation through photosynthesis, by processes in which leaves act as power generators, main factories, and dispensers of organic substances. Leaves store energy in organic compounds (mainly carbohydrates) that are redistributed within the plant system, thus keeping all metabolic and transport processes active and maintaining and developing plant structure. Water availability is essential both for metabolic processes and for keeping the sap flowing throughout the whole plant system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Dengler N, Kang J. Vascular patterning and leaf shape. Curr Opin Plant Biol. 2001;4:50–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Runions N, Fuhrer M, Lane B, Federl P, Rolland-Lagan AG, Prusinkiewicz P. Modeling and visualization of leaf venation patterns. ACM Transactions on Graphics. 2005;24(3):702–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Zimmerman U, Meinzer F, Bentrup FW. How does water ascend in tall trees and other vascular plants? Ann Bot. 1995;76:545–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Jackson RB, Sperry JS, Dawson TE. Root water uptake and transport: using physiological processes in global predictions. Trends Plant Sci. 2000;5(11):482–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bejan A. Advanced engineering thermodynamics,Chap. 13. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bejan A. Shape and structure, from engineering to nature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2000.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Reis AH. Constructal theory: from engineering to physics, or How flow systems develop shape and structure. Appl Mech Rev. 2006;59:269–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bejan A, Lorente S. Design with constructal theory. Hoboken: Wiley; 2008.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  9. Dixon HH, Joly J. On the ascent of sap. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B. 1895;186:563–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Canny MJ. A new theory for the ascent of sap-cohesion supported by tissue pressure. Ann Bot. 1995;75:343–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Balling A, Zimmerman U. Comparative measurements of xylem pressure of Nicotiana plants by means of the pressure bomb and pressure probe. Planta. 1990;182:325–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Plumb RC, Bridgman WB. Ascent of sap in trees. Science. 1972;179:1129–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Cary JW, Jensen ME, Fisher HD. Physical state of water in plant xylem vessels. Agronomy J. 1968;60:167–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zimmerman U, Haase A, Langbein D, Meinze FC. Mechanisms of long-distance water transport in plants: a re-examination of some paradigms in the light of new evidence. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B. 1993;341:19–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Reis AH. A natural potential for sap ascent in plants, (to appear in Plant J, 2012); 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gibert D, Le Moue JL, Lambs L. Sap flow and daily electric potential variations in a tree trunk. Plant Sci. 2006;171:572–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Koppán A, Fenyves A, Szarka L, Wesztergom V. Measurement of electric potential difference on trees. Acta Biologica Szegediensis. 2002;46(3–4):37–8.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Évora Geophysics Centre, University of Évora, Rua Ramalho, 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal

    A. H. Reis

Authors
  1. A. H. Reis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. H. Reis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sul - UFRGS, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do, Rua Sarmento Leite 435, Porto Alegre, 90.050-170, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Luiz A.O. Rocha

  2. , LMDC, INSA, University of Toulouse, Avenue de Rangueil 135, Toulouse, F-31 077, France

    Sylvie Lorente

  3. Dept. Mechanical Engineering &, Materials Science, Duke University, Hudson Hall, Durham, 27708, North Carolina, USA

    Adrian Bejan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Reis, A.H. (2013). Leaf Shapes and Venation Patterns. In: Rocha, L., Lorente, S., Bejan, A. (eds) Constructal Law and the Unifying Principle of Design. Understanding Complex Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5049-8_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5049-8_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5048-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5049-8

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation