Patterns on Desert Plants

The patterns seen in both the phyllotaxis and surface morphologies in the vicinity of the shoot apical meristems of plants are discussed. We begin with many pictures and a narrative descriptive of both the universal and anomalous features of desert and other plants. We then briefly outline explanations and open challenges. Although many of the special features of phyllotaxis have been known for over four centuries, only now are mechanistic explanations beginning to emerge.