M-systems A Conformal Approach to Plant Morphogenesis

This essay concerns two approaches to mathematical modelling of plant morphogenesis: the traditionally successful L-systems, and the recent invention M-systems. In regard to the former, we present basic aspects of L-system theory and its application to plant morphogenesis, as well as the possibility of considering L-systems in the setting of formal language theory, to which they, perhaps surprisingly, are related. As for M-systems, we dwell on computer experiments designed to test their applicability, in addition to purely theoretical arguments bearing on the same matter. We end with a series of proposals for extensions of the unadorned variety of M-systems which this essay mainly pertains to, as an indication of potential avenues for further investigations of M-systems