1. The arrangement of leaves on a plant stem or axis.
Usage: Also called phyllotaxy.; Technical term used in botany.

Examples

• The phyllotaxis of the maple tree shows an alternating pattern along the branch.
• Botanists study phyllotaxis to understand how plants optimize light exposure.
• Different species exhibit distinct phyllotaxis patterns, from spiral to opposite arrangements.
• The phyllotaxis of sunflowers follows a mathematical sequence that maximizes seed packing.
• Understanding phyllotaxis helps gardeners predict how a plant's foliage will develop.