> A realistic set of mathematical equations to describe fern leaf or cauliflower curd development is needed
Well if we're talking about Lindenmayer's work on L-Systems being limited to abstract representations of plants, without getting into all the other structures we're seeing that AREN'T self-similar within the plant itself, yet still branching and perhaps representable by a totally different L-system representation from say the branching of stems and leaves (Say networks of vasculature within plants such as xylem and pholem, which we see as 'veins' within the leaves for example) - Then yeah, plants really are WAY more complex than that and they deserve a more accurate representation.
I think L-systems are beautiful and I really recommend anyone who's interested check out Lindenmayer's work on it all [1] but I think if this article has any point it's that we need more complex models to really do plants justice. I think that the fractal appearance of stuff like romanesco broccoli sure is cool but I think it's better understood as sort of a holographic projection of fractalline growth into 3d space rather than an actual 3d fractal
Like these models are super excellent for making renders of plants in 3D modelling engines but they're not REALLY plants, even if we can make them look incredibly realistic using just that basic level of modelling, some nice shaders, and some trig functions to make it look like it's blowing in the wind
I remember reading about L-Systems in Santa Fe Institutes publications in '90s. Just found this book below when searching for that - this looks comprehensive at a glance:
The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants, Prusinkiewicz & Lindenmayer, 2004
Well if we're talking about Lindenmayer's work on L-Systems being limited to abstract representations of plants, without getting into all the other structures we're seeing that AREN'T self-similar within the plant itself, yet still branching and perhaps representable by a totally different L-system representation from say the branching of stems and leaves (Say networks of vasculature within plants such as xylem and pholem, which we see as 'veins' within the leaves for example) - Then yeah, plants really are WAY more complex than that and they deserve a more accurate representation.
I think L-systems are beautiful and I really recommend anyone who's interested check out Lindenmayer's work on it all [1] but I think if this article has any point it's that we need more complex models to really do plants justice. I think that the fractal appearance of stuff like romanesco broccoli sure is cool but I think it's better understood as sort of a holographic projection of fractalline growth into 3d space rather than an actual 3d fractal
Like these models are super excellent for making renders of plants in 3D modelling engines but they're not REALLY plants, even if we can make them look incredibly realistic using just that basic level of modelling, some nice shaders, and some trig functions to make it look like it's blowing in the wind
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Algorithmic_Beauty_of_Plan... [1]