Leaves of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and beech (Fagus sylvaticus) were modelled to a ¢rst approximation as plane surfaces, with straight parallel folds, using numerical methods. In both species the lateral veins, when the leaves are outstretched, are angled at 30^508 from the centre vein. A higher angle allows the leaf to be folded more compactly within the bud, but it takes longer to expand. This may allow the plant to optimize the timing of leaf deployment with ecological and physiological conditions.
Origami – the Japanese term for “paper-folding” – in natural structures such as leaves of trees, fructifications and insect organs, has fascinated scientists and designers for over two decades. Technical origami, at the other hand, that focuses on the mechanical and functional properties of deployable lightweight structures, finds its way into the fields of biology, biomechanics and biomimetic engineering.
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