Integrating biomechanics into developmental plant models expressed using L-systems

Abstract

We present a method for incorporating the biomechanical model of the bending of branch axes introduced by Schaffer and Fournier et al. into developmental plant models expressed using L-systems. The models capture the impact of gravity, tropisms, contact between elements of a plant structure and contact with obstacles on the shape of branches. Sample plants modeled using this technique are compared with photographs of real plants.

Keywords: L-system, biomechanics, elasticity, rod, gravity, tropism.

Reference

Integrating biomechanics into developmental plant models expressed using L-systems. In: H.-Ch. Spatz and T. Speck (Eds.): Plant biomechanics 2000 . Proceedings of the 3rd Plant Biomechanics Conference, Freiburg-Badenweiler, August 27 to September 2, 2000. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 2000, pp. 615-624.