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How are excurrent and deliquescent branching patterns different?

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Tall giant sequoia trees with reddish bark and thick trunks rise closely together in a dense forest at Sequoia National Park, California. — tree A stand of giant sequoia trees (*Sequoiadendron giganteum*) in Sequoia National Park, California.

In the study of branching patterns in trees, excurrent and deliquescent forms are distinguished by how the central axis develops and persists.1

Excurrent branching: This pattern is characterized by a well-defined, dominant central trunk that continues to grow upward, while the lateral branches remain smaller and subordinate to it. This form is most commonly observed in many conifers.1
Deliquescent branching: In this pattern, the tree maintains a well-defined central axis only during the early stages of development. Eventually, the central axis divides continually, resulting in a crown composed of branches that are of similar dimensions. This growth habit is found in many angiosperms, such as the American elm, oaks, and the honey locust.1

These patterns represent two distinct architectural strategies for tree growth, contrasting with the columnar form seen in palms, where the central axis does not branch until it reaches the apex of the bole.1