Discovery of the spatial pattern of prickles on the stem of the rose and the mathematical model of the pattern.

Reproducible pattern is a key characteristic of organisms. Many developmental patterns are known that it is orchestrated by diffusion of the factors. Herein, we reported a novel patterning that seems to be controlled by diffusion factors. Although it looks like the prickles randomly emerge on the stem of rose, we deciphered patterns for the position of prickles with statistical data and proposed a mathematical model to explain the process via which the pattern emerged. By changing the model parameters, we reproduce another pattern on other plant species. This finding indicates that the patterns between many species are organized by similar systems. Moreover, although the pattern of organisms is often linked to its function, we consider the spatial pattern of prickles may have a function to play the role of prickles effectively. Further studies will clarify the role of prickles and reveal the entity of diffusive factors.