Leaf Veins

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(c) Ian Alexander 1996-2005
Leaf

The veins on this giant ornamental 'rhubarb' Gunnera leaf form treelike (dendritic) patterns as they branch to reach all parts of the surface.
The patterns are roughly fractal, appearing similar over a range of scales from tens of centimeters - a large vein is visible at top left - down to a few millimeters. (True fractals are self-similar patterns at all scales.)