Emergence of self‐similar tree network organization

The self‐similar tree topology in open dissipative systems is formed as a result of self‐organization and found in various examples, such as river networks, blood vessels, vascular organizations in plants, and even lightning. It is generally assumed that the tree organization is a result of a dynamic process that minimizes the dissipation of energy. Here, we argue that inherent randomness is a sufficient condition for the generation of tree patterns under evolutionary dynamics and the decrease of energy expenditure is not the cause but a consequent signature. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 13: 30–37, 2008