BIOMETRICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR A DYNAMICAL A RCHITECTURAL MODEL OF SPRUCE (PICEA-ABIES (L) KARST)

Three-dimensional, structural tree models, based on morphological data , have been applied in simulations of radiation regime, of xylem sap f low and in competition models. The empirical foundation of such models is presented in the example of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) KARST. ). By evaluating data collections from 14-years-old trees and from sin gle branches, parameters for a meristem-oriented model approach for th e development of the tree architecture were determined. Structural phe nomena like acrotony, aging along the axes, branching habit and bud mo rtality could be quantified this pray. Moreover, the influence of the position of shoots in the branching system on needle parameters (e. g. needle dry mass) was investigated. At last it will be sketched how th e obtained relations can become part of a structure-generating stochas tic growth grammar (extended LINDENMAYER system) for the generation of 3dimensional tree models.