Grow

The primary growth node. Encapsulates core operations (growth, repetition, branching, switching) into a single interface. Defines one or more growth steps with time-varying attributes.

The Grow node is the primary interface for creating procedural vegetation in Natsura.

Encapsulated Logic: It wraps grow_core, split, repeat (begin/end), switch, and wrangle into one powerful tool.
Recursive or Linear: Can create a single internode or a recursive structure (using built-in repeat) with time-varying attributes.
Mapped Interface: Exposes sockets that drive internal core parameters via mapping chains.

Concept

Core Parameters vs. Interface Under the hood, the growth logic is driven by a few fundamental parameters on the grow_core:

Length Scale
Width Scale
Pitch, Roll, Yaw
Offset (position on parent internode)
Branch Count (innate forking property)

The Grow node maps these raw parameters to user-friendly controls. For example, "Multiplicity" drives Branch Count on the first step, while "Forking" drives Branch Count during recursive repetition.

Forking vs. Splitting

Forking is governed by the innate Branch Count property. It creates copies of the growth based on probabilities or gradients mapped to that count.
Splitting (via the Split node) creates explicit, parallel branches in the graph topology.

Recursion The built-in repeat allows a single Grow node to generate complex, recursive geometry (like a stem with leaves) by re-evaluating the graph N times. Alternatively, you can use Grow for a single step and wrap it in an explicit Repeat block for advanced workflows.

Inputs

Input 0 — Graph Existing growth graph.
Input 1 — Parms Geometry with a parms detail dictionary for external constants.
Input 2 — Second Graph Secondary graph merged during repetition (e.g., interleaving another recipe).
Output — Graph The resulting Apex graph.

Parameters

Initialization Controls the first step of growth.

Interval / Offset: Spacing and phase along the parent.
Multiplicity: Sets the Branch Count for the initial step (creating multiple siblings).
Orientation: Initial Pitch, Roll, Yaw.

Growth (Recursion)

Max Growth Steps: How many times to repeat the internal graph.
Fraction: Gates the realized steps (allows partial growth).
Per-Step Modifiers: Maps that drive Length, Width, and Spiral (incremental orientation) over the recursion.

Fork (Branching) Controls Branch Count during recursion.

Enable Fork: Unlocks branching during the repeat loop.
Branches: Sets the target Branch Count.
Probability: Maps the likelihood of a fork occurring.
Spread: Angular distribution of forked branches.

Sockets Connect Mapping chains here to drive the internal parameters in space and time.

Mappings: Drive length, width, orientation, etc.
Effectors: World-space influences (Gravity, Phototropism).
Decorations: Queue geometry (leaves, flowers) to be generated by Simulate.

Attributes

Attribute	Meaning
`u`	Normalized progress along the current growth section.
`id`	Unique identifier for the internode.
`parent_id`	ID of the parent internode.
`generation`	Recursive depth from the root.
`age`	Time/step counter.
`branch_count`	The innate forking property (driven by Multiplicity or Fork settings).

Workflow

Base Growth: Use Initialization to set the starting point and orientation.
Recursion: Increase Max Growth Steps to grow a long structure. Map Width to u for tapering.
Forking: Enable Fork to create branches along the stem. Map Probability to control density.
Variation: Connect Mappings to sockets to drive Pitch, Yaw, or Length with noise or gradients.
Simulation: Pass the result to Simulate to generate the geometry.

Node	Relationship
Simulate	Evaluates the graph
Repeat	Explicit Begin/End block for advanced recursion
Split	Creates explicit parallel branches
Switch	Conditional logic (encapsulated in Grow)

Internal Nodes

Internal low-level nodes used by Natsura's public node set.

Prune