170 In the forest tree, given knowledge of the constant of proportionality k in the equation for max: Honax =k (Rmax)”. (79.1) The constant k depends on the mechanical properties of each particular tree (such as density, and the linear elasticity, or stress-to-strain ratio); in the short table below Hmax has been calculated for ash, black oak, and redwood trees: Tree (and estimate of typical R) Himax (m) Hmax (ft) Ash (Rmax=9 in = 0.23 m) 60.8 200 Black oak (Rmax = 18 in=0.46 m) 90.2 296 Redwood (Rrmax= 1m) 164.0 538 Clearly, according to this model, trees are built with a large safety factor! The tallest known redwood tree, Hyperion, a California coastal redwood, is 379 ft high. The corresponding records for some other trees are Douglas fir (302 ft), giant sequoia (General Grant, 310 ft), ponderosa pine (223 ft), cedar (219 ft), Sitka spruce (216 ft), and beech (161 ft). Typical values for the black oak and white ash are 50-80 ft (diameter 1-2} ft) and 80ft (diameter about 2 ft), respectively. The redwood is typically about 350 feet high. This upper limit Hmax has been derived purely on the basis of mechanical considerations. As noted at the beginning of this section, a related, but different constraint, totally ignored here, is that of the ability of the tree to move water through the trunk to the branches and leaves. This is done by transpiration, and clearly there is a limit to how high a tree can be for this mechanism to work efficiently. This will provide an upper limit less than Hmax (I suspect), and hence a more realistic one. Engineers like to build in safety factors as well! Furthermore, it is interesting that on the basis of a purely engineering type of analysis we have been able to deduce the basic observations concerning the relationship of tree radius to tree height. A further point of interest is the sug- gestion that this model may also be appropriate in animal models, since most body segments are roughly cylindrical and may be built to withstand buckling. DIMENSIONAL ARGUMENTS AND MECHANICAL “DERIVATION” OF (79.1) If the ratio of the height to radius of a self-supporting vertical column is too large, it will become unstable to lateral deflections, as seems eminently rea-