Published in
American Physical Society, Physical Review Letters, 25(107)
DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.107.258101
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Leonardo's Rule, Self-Similarity, and Wind-Induced Stresses in Trees
Journal article published in 2011 by
Christophe Eloy 
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Abstract
Examining botanical trees, Leonardo da Vinci noted that the total cross section of branches is conserved across branching nodes. In this Letter, it is proposed that this rule is a consequence of the tree skeleton having a self-similar structure and the branch diameters being adjusted to resist wind-induced loads.