arborisering

Arborisation, or arborization, is the process by which a structure develops a network of branches, producing a tree-like form. The term derives from the Latin arbor, tree, and is used in several biological disciplines to describe branching patterns that resemble a tree’s crown.

In botany and horticulture, arborisation refers to the branching architecture of plants, including the arrangement and extent of twigs, shoots, and limbs on a stem or crown. Different species and cultivars exhibit characteristic branching patterns, from compact, spreading forms to tall, vertical canopies. Arborisation influences light interception, mechanical stability, and productivity. Horticultural practices such as pruning, training, and espalier grafting are used to shape or enhance desired crown architectures, improve fruit production, or increase aesthetic value.

In neuroscience, arborisation describes the branching of neurons’ dendrites and sometimes axons, forming a dendritic or axonal arbor. This branching determines the neuron’s receptive field and connectivity within neural networks. Arborisation develops through growth, guidance cues, and cytoskeletal dynamics, and its patterns are analyzed with methods such as Sholl analysis to quantify branching complexity. Proper arborisation is essential for synaptic integration and information processing; disruptions are linked to developmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Arborisation thus denotes a common biological motif: a centralized core giving rise to a network of branches, optimizing contact, resource distribution, or connectivity. The concept appears across fields and supports both functional anatomy and structural organization in living systems.