Patterns of leaves or florets, phyllotaxis, have long been well characterized using parameters that describe the patterns as lattices of points or arrangements of contiguous circles. The patterns are usually interpreted in terms of spiral lines drawn through the points or circles. For example, in a pine cone the number of visible spiral lines, in two sets with opposing spiral sense, is typically a pair of adjacent numbers in the Fibonacci series. This format for characterization, while precise and terse for spiral Fibonacci patterns, has four disadvantages or limitations when applied generally. First, when the spiral notation is applied to obviously orthogonal patterns, such as decussate, it implies developmental chirality even though the pattern has no intrinsic handedness. Second, the classification has led to no convenient subgrouping, of all patterns: i.e., do all forms with one organ per node constitute a natural group? Third, the characterization is of a static pattern based on an assumed constant center of symmetry. Characterization is not related to the mode of formation of the patterns. Finally, the notation is not convenient for describing gradual developmental transitions between patterns. We find that a broad range of phyllotactic patterns can be conveniently characterized by diagrams, each derived from a single measurement of the apical surface that produces the organs. During each developmental cycle, this area expands to a maximum and then is abruptly reduced to a minimum by demarcation of a new leaf (or leaves). The center of area is generally different before and after demarcation, hence its movement during the demarcation event is a vector. We present a method for juxtaposing these vectors over consecutive plastochrons. The resulting planar figure is diagnostic of the broad categories of phyllotaxis. In “balanced” forms, whorled apices, there is no net movement of the center of area so the resulting figure is a point. In the second category, “linear”, the vectors reverse, retracing a line segment. Leaves alternating in a plane, distichous phyllotaxy, arise from this pattern. In the third category, “polygonal”, the juxtaposed vectors advance so as to circumscribe a polygon. Such plants (some Euphorbias ) generate leaves in helical sequence but the leaves stand in vertical ranks. In the fourth category, “circular” the vectors circumscribe a circle. This behavior is found in plants with irrational divergence angles and hence applies to the common Fibonacci spiral forms. The vectorial mode of primary categorization appears to lack the four listed shortcomings.