Skip to content News Plants A leaf’s geometry determines whether it falls far from its tree Round leaves land near the tree, while lobed, asymmetrical leaves fly far Scientists have shown that leaves’ shapes and symmetry let them fall close to the tree — allowing the tree access to the nutrients in them. Vicente Méndez/Getty Images By Bethany Brookshire 2 hours ago An apple may not fall far from the tree, but for a leaf, it depends on its shape. Elm or apple leaves — oval and symmetrical, with few protruding lobes — fall quickly, making them likely to end up close to the tree’s base. Adding lobes and asymmetry to leaves slows their descent, causing them to fall farther away, physicists Matthew Biviano and Kaare Jensen report May 7 in Journal of the Royal Society Interface. Sign up for our newsletter We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/leaf-geometry-fall-tree-carbon #leafs #geometry #determines #whether #falls #far #from #its #tree