Fig. 4

Distribution of number of phytomers in an annual shoot exhibiting a mixture of preformation and neoformation. a Example of realization of this pattern in the annual shoot of Japanese elm (de Reffye et al. 1991a, b). b Monte Carlo simulation of 1,000 shoots, where the preformed part follows a binomial distribution (N = 15, b = 0.8) and the neoformed part follows a geometric distribution (c = 0.95). c Five simulated series of “seasonal” (temperate) shoot development with preformation and neoformation: extension of preformation part (square) is followed by neoformation (diamond) and ends with a rest period (circle). Parameters of the distributions are the same as above