|filə|taksē, -si noun
or phyl·lo·tax·is -ksə̇s
( plural phyllotax·ies -sēz, -siz ; or phyllotax·es -ˌsēz)
Etymology: New Latin phyllotaxis, from phyll- + -taxis
1. : the arrangement of leaves on a stem and in relation to one another
decussate phyllotaxy
alternate phyllotaxy
— compare genetic spiral , orthostichy , parastichy
2. : the study of phyllotaxy and of the laws that govern it