Preliminary Course
Botany. Architectural Analysis
Preliminary Architectural Concepts.
Growth and branching
Branching
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The branching process builds branches at leaf axils; it relies on the delimitation of a zone
of embryonic cells just next to the initiated leaf, i.e. the axillary meristem.
The branching process allows a plant to explore many directions, from one axis through new lateral axes. It includes the initiation and development of lateral buds.
Axillary meristem and branching (Photos: Y. Caraglio, CIRAD)
Left: microscopic view with axillary meristems (Pisum sp)
Right: a branch resulting from a branching process (Eryobotria japonica)