Description / Table of Contents:
The present study will provide an introduction into the biomechanics of trees and will give a critical survey of the phylogeny and the constructional principles of the tree habit. Since the trunk is considered the basic and crucial element of a tree, the analysis is largely restricted to a functional comparison of the stem anatomy of the various tree forms. It is based on the concept of constructional morphology, thus considering simultaneously the functional aspect and the ontogenetical and phylogenetical development of the various trunk types. The main questions to be answered in this study are; Why do trees exist? - Which are the constructional principles of tree trunks and when and in which group of plants do they appear? - How important are internal (phylogenetic) and external (functional, constructional) constraints? - What are the specific properties of the different constructional principles and does a correlation between trunk design and growth habit exist? - Is there a tendency in phylogeny to a better performance? The study does not (and cannot) intend to provide a detailed biophysical analysis of individual cases because experimental data on the mechanical properties of the structural elements of the different kinds of trees are still lacking. Instead, it will he the task to evaluate in a comprehensive and qualitative or semi-quantitative manner the available data of the morphology, anatomy and phylogeny of fossil and recent trees by using concepts of biomechanics and constructional morphology. Thus a somewhat holistic approach is used, which is becoming increasingly more acceptable today.
Pages:
Online-Ressource (161 Seiten)
ISBN:
9783540523741
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0011397
Language:
English
