Branches and Twigs

Thick branches growing directly from the trunk are known as boughs or sometimes limbs or arms.

At the other extreme, twigs are the small, terminal branches that develop shoots from which leaves grow – although by some definitions they are simply small branches.

Branches and twigs support the leaves, helping them absorb sunlight and adding extra stability to the crown. They’re also part of the system that transports water and nutrients from root to leaf and, in the opposite direction, sugars that become sap.

Because trees seek sunlight, the trunk (or stem) grows fastest until reaching full height, after which point branch growth accelerates. In many cases this leads to the classic tree shape (a bit like our logo) as low branches reach for the sky.

Where a trunk splits into multiple boughs is called a fork (a preferable alternative to ‘crotch’). Forks can be U-shaped or V-shaped but the latter provides far worse stability due to growing bark layers in the ‘V’ instead of wood.

Branch growth naturally occurs in the same fractal patterns discovered by Da Vinci and seen across nature and the universe. Given the importance of trees, we probably shouldn’t be surprised!

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Image: ScienceFacts.net