> I know HN is mostly interested in computers, but plants have some very interesting things to learn about.
Indeed, and you can even study them in the context of algorithms: http://algorithmicbotany.org/ - discovered this while reading about L-systems, I find it really fascinating.
Hey, Cory here. I'm a (relatively new) member of that lab.
I think the coolest thing on the site is the book The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants. The PDF is available in the publications section.
TreeSketch is also interesting. There's a fairly approachable paper about it there too. Unfortunately, keeping up with regular maintenance for an iOS App is quite painful for a university lab. It was removed from App Store after its last maintainer moved on, but there has been some discussion about relisting it.
Indeed, and you can even study them in the context of algorithms: http://algorithmicbotany.org/ - discovered this while reading about L-systems, I find it really fascinating.