Evolution of plant shape: Design constraints.

The fossil record documents the morphological and anatomical changes that have occurred over more than 400 million years of land plant evolution. Many of these changes can be interpreted, and even predicted, on the basis of standard engineering principles pertaining to mechanical stability, hydraulics, and the rescaling of form to maintain a constant level of performance or function. Theoretically based hypotheses, constructed using modern computer technology, can be compared with the major trends seen in the evolution of land plants and so provide insights into the factors motivating morphological and anatomical changes during the Phanerozoic.