Phyllotaxis: The status of the field (Q1897788)

The present paper reviews the literature and contributions of the workers in phyllotaxis, stressing some of my own main contributions and the interdisciplinarity of the subject. The efforts in the area aim at reproducing the structures observed and generally concentrate on the plant apex, which, like a tree, hides the whole forest. Part of this forest concerns the phenomenon of homology and the phyletic origins of phyllotactic patterns. Some contributors are beginning to recognize the importance of a wider perspective, given that ``phyllotactic patterns'' can be seen elsewhere in nature. My contributions have been made possible mostly by a systemic perspective that is seen to allow us to deal with the problem of origins of phyllotaxis in the appropriate framework. This paper emphasizes the idea that the various approaches to phyllotaxis are to some extent complementary and that the results from all quarters can sometimes be harmonized into an integrated whole showing the limits of the validity of every construct in the area. An understanding of the paper requires some familiarity with the subject.