Why do plant branches grow in straight lines, but you see twigs in angular patterns?
In: Biology
Could you clarify what you’re asking? Most branches don’t grow straight, and the shape is influenced by many factors including availability of sunlight, competition, access to water and nutrients, etc.
It depends on how the buds are naturally placed on the twig. Some plants have twigs that are symmetrical to each other
To cover the most surface they can in order to maximize photosynthesis. The branches grow outwards, and then start spreading. Because of the more they grow, the heavier they get, they have a limit on long they can get. Also, the reason they don’t start spreading on all directions in the first place, is because the sun couldn’t be able to hit the leaves in the beginning of the branch so they would be basically useless.
So they grow outwards, and then they start spreading, in order to create a “sphere” of leaves. That “sphere” shape is the most efficient one that exists in order to maximize photosynthesis, having the most amount of surface hit by the sun throughout the day 🙂
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