Phyllotaxis: A Systemic Study in Plant Morphogenesis

by Roger V. Jean

Overview

In this book, the many facets of phyllotaxis are dealt with in an integrated manner. The author describes a unified concept of phyllotaxis, and presents a mathematical model of plant growth based on experimental, anatomical, cellular, physiological, and paleontological observations. The model not only provides a framework for formal analyses of botanical data, but also emphasizes the relevance of phyllotaxis to other structures, such as crystals, and proteins.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521404822
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/28/1994
Pages:	402
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.87(d)

Table of Contents

Prologue; Part I. Pattern Recognition: Introduction; 1. The centric representation; 2. The fundamental theorem and its applications; 3. Hierarchal control in phyllotaxis; 4. Allometry-type model in phyllotaxis; 5. Practical pattern recognition; Epilogue; Part II. Pattern Generation: A Key to the Puzzles: Introduction; 6. An interpretative model; 7. Testing the interpretative model; 8. The interpretative model and whorled patterns; 9. Convergences among models; Epilogue; Part III. Origins of Phyllotactic Patterns: Introduction; 10. Exotic phyllotaxis; 11. Morphogenetical parallelism and autoevolutionism; 12. The challenge redefined; Epilogue; Part IV. Complements: Introduction; Appendices; Bibliography; Indexes.

Editorial Reviews

"...an invaluable guide to the literature. For the beginning student it provides a clear introduction to the known facts, the basic concepts, and the questions to be answered." Irving Adler

"...a marvelous little book..." Nature

"...Roger Jean presents an overview of these fascinating phenomena and their roots in a new book that should interest biologists, mathematicians and historians of science....Jean untangles this confused web and provides an integrated approach to the description and mathematical study of phyllotactic spirals." Thomas J. Givnish, Science

"...The book is written quite clearly with careful definitions and illustrations, a very helpful glossary, and a logical organization of the vast material...Jean has succeeded in the paradoxical task of writin g a book which is simultaneously at the forefront, and therefore useful to researcgers, yet comprehensible to those with little mathematical or botanical background...the study of this classic problem in mathmatical biology, which is so well and thoroughly presented in this book, is of interest to pure and applied mathematicians, physicists, chemists, and engineers—as well as to botanists." Sharon Lubkin, Bulle tin of Mathematical Biology

"...provocatively and beautifully written...this book will doubtless become a classic." L.W. Roberts, Choice

"...especially well done, with a careful description of the mathematical basis needed to describe phyllotaxic patterns and a large number of examples...an important book for the mathematical biologist or anyone whose research interests involve geometrical aspects of plant structure. It is an excellent primer for description and methods of generation of phyllotaxic patterns...specialists will want to buy the book..." Thomas Herbert, Plant Science Bulletin

From the Publisher