Spoke branches
From BonsaiWIKI
Spoke branches or whorls as they are sometimes called, are a special type of bar branches in which three or more branches originate at the same level on the trunk, because they resemble the spokes on a wheel. Pines have this natural growth habit, but spoke branching usually takes care of itself in nature as the less successful of competing branches is shed.
A growing tree produces many more branches than it requires or can sustain. Each branch is an opportunity and a liability to the plant. In nature, those that turn out to be ill placed and don't receive adequate light or ventilation will die off and ultimately be lost. We need to keep this fact in mind when we design a bonsai to ensure that the branch spacing and placement promotes good ventilation and light gathering capability to ensure the health of each branch.
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