EVOLUTIONARY PATTERNS OF LEAVES: PALEOBOTANY AND CONSTRUCTAL LAW

Paleobotany has been making the evolution of living structures that gave rise to present-day plants with thin planar leaves increasingly clear. And it tells us a fascinating story with many chapters to write and enigmas to decipher. The evolution of the structures that gave rise to present-day leaves with dense venation is one of those enigmas for which Constructal Law can offer a consistent, scientifically based, and beautiful explanation. In this article, we show how it is possible to understand the evolution of the shape and venation of the structures that gave rise to present-day leaves. We aim to promote “easier and easier access” to all the energy and mass currents that allow photosynthesis and subsequent redistribution of products throughout the leaf system within a constraints framework (optimization of solar radiation capture and access to water and nutrients).