L systems to model lateral and dichotomous branching of filamentous microorganisms

The following two simple context free deterministic DOL systems were designed to produce images that simulate lateral branching and dichotomous branching.

/*
   1993 Fran Soddell
   Deterministic context free (zero) L system
   (D0L) that models lateral branching.
  
*/

#define maxgen 1
#define delta 60

START: Fb
p1: b-> [+Fb]Fa
p2: a-> [-Fb]Fb


/*
   18.1.93 Fran Soddell

   Branching at the tip 
   DOL system for dichotomous branching.
   Demonstrates exponential growth through branching.

*/

#define maxgen 1
#define delta 45 


START:  Fb

p1: b -> [+Fb][-Fb]

Parametric Modelling

A more general system may be used to model both lateral and dichotomous branching using parametric rules. Two predefined constants, a and b, are used to specify the size of branching angles. To simulate lateral branching, a is set to 0 degrees to simulate forward growth, and b is set to the size of the branching angle (e.g. b=30 ). To simulate dichotomous branching, a and b are set to the same size and the angle between branches is their sum (e.g. a=15, b=15).

/*
  4.2.93  Fran Soddell

  Branching at the tip 
  Parametric modelling.
  A general L system may be used to create images representing 
  either lateral (a=0, b=30) or dichotomous (a=15, b=15) branching.

*/

#define maxgen 1
#define a  0 
#define b 30 

START:  B(0)

p1 : B(t) : t=0 -> [+(a)FB(1)B(2)]
p2 : B(t) : t=1 -> [-(a)FB(0)B(3)]
p3 : B(t) : t=2 -> [+(b)FB(3)B(0)]
p4 : B(t) : t=3 -> [-(b)FB(2)B(1)]

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last updated November 1999 F.Soddell@latrobe.edu.au