Generation of different plant geometry using L-system based model

Abstract

We present a simple L-system based model that is able to generate the growth of a tree into different shapes depending on the local growth parameters: growth rate, α, branching factor, j, and branching angle, θ. Trees with varying masses, height and shape are qualitatively compared to real-life full grown trees. Small values of θ resulted to inverted triangular shapes. For values approximately between 30 to 50 degrees, the general shape of the trees is more curved and rounded. Higher branching angles generate unrealistic polygonal shapes. More massive trees were obtained for larger values of α and j. Shorter trees are observed even for bigger values of j while those for higher values of α are consistently taller.