Dynamical models for plant pattern formation

In recent years computer models have become increasingly important in providing insights into the developmental process of plants. The study of phyllotactic patterns provides a good example of this. Despite the huge diversity of plant forms there are only a few ways in which plant organs such as leaves, florets, scales, etc. are arranged along a plant stem. The prevalence of a small number of phyllotactic patterns is the result of a regularly occurring process in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Plant organs begin in the SAM as primordia which form in succession with the position of the newest primordia determined by the existing primordia. Processes such as this are well suited to being modeled with discrete dynamical systems.