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Is it possible, given a pattern or image, to calculate the equation of the fractal for that given pattern?

For example, many plants express definite fractal patterns in their growth. Is there a formula or set of processes that give the fractal equation of their growth?

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    $\begingroup$ The Wikipedia link provided by Jim, with respect to "L-systems" lists, as an open problem: "Given a structure, find an L-system that can produce that structure." Nice question, though! The same link provided by Jim (L-systems), has as a book reference, a link to a pdf book that you might be interested in: Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz, Aristid Lindenmayer - The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants, algorithmicbotany.org/papers/#abop, though there are also many additional links and resources that may be of interest, which you can access directly from the Wikipedia entry. $\endgroup$
    – amWhy
    Jun 20, 2011 at 23:49
  • $\begingroup$ what do you mean by "the equation of the fractal"? Do you have an example of a fractal together with its equation? $\endgroup$
    – Gerry Myerson
    Jun 21, 2011 at 0:01
  • $\begingroup$ The L-system problems as mentioned by @amWhy and @Jim Belk, are what I'd like to do with plants. Thank you gentlemen, I didn't know it was an open problem, explained why I couldn't get an answer out of Google! In addition, I'd like to know if there is a way to take the images generated in this answer and determine that this is a Mandelbrot fractal, for example. $\endgroup$
    – Albert Perrien
    Jun 21, 2011 at 2:05

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There are two common ways to describe the shapes of simple fractals:

  • You can specify a generating set of self-similarities for the fractal. These self-similarities form an iterated function system, which can be used to reconstruct the original fractal. This is the method used to construct the Barnsley fern:

Barnsley fern

  • You can specify a Lindenmayer system (or L-system) for the fractal. Wikipedia gives the following examples of "weeds" constructed using an L-system:

enter image description here

(Note: Both pictures are from Wikipedia.)

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As requested, I'm posting my comment as an answer here:

The Wikipedia link provided by Jim, with respect to "L-systems" lists, as an open problem:

"Given a structure, find an L-system that can produce that structure."

It is a great question, though! The same link provided by Jim (on L-systems), lists a book reference, including a link to the book in pdf format that you might be interested in: Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz, Aristid Lindenmayer - Algorithmic Beauty of Plants (for URL: algorithmicbotany.org/papers/#abop). There you can download any/all of the following pdfs: 

Chapter 1 - Graphical modeling using L-systems (2Mb; LQ, 1Mb)
Chapter 2 - Modeling of trees (4Mb; LQ, 300kb)
Chapter 3 - Developmental models of herbaceous plants (1.7Mb; LQ, 500kb)
Chapter 4 - Phyllotaxis (2.5Mb; LQ, 500kb)
Chapter 5 - Models of plant organs (1.2Mb; LQ, 300kb)
Chapter 6 - Animation of plant development (650kb; LQ, 160kb)
Chapter 7 - Modeling of cellular layers (3.7Mb; LQ, 800kb)
Chapter 8 - Fractal properties of plants (1.2Mb; LQ, 300kb)

There are also many additional links and resources that may be of interest, which you can access directly from the Wikipedia entry.

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  • $\begingroup$ Very nice reference, I have always wanted to go back and study fractals and especially drawing these graphics more. +1 $\endgroup$
    – Amzoti
    May 23, 2013 at 1:53
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For images, there is an automatic method, fractal compression.

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