  We formulate the configurational partition function for dendrimers, taking
explicit account of their conformations and segmental interactions. Two
approximate schemes are presented, one based on the effective
dendrimer-dendrimer interactions and the other based on the interactions among
the mesogenic units comprising the dendrimers. In the latter scheme, the
description of the dendromesogenic system reduces to that of an ensemble of
mesogenic dimers. Results of lattice calculations for phase transitions are
presented showing that the minimal inclusion of shape anisotropy and of
sub-molecular partitioning into chemically distinct parts reproduces the
variety of phases and phase sequences observed experimentally and provides
insights into the conformational aspect of these transitions.
