![]() ![]() Why Fibonacci spirals, also known as nature's secret code, are so common in plants has perplexed scientists for centuries, but their evolutionary origin has been largely overlooked.īased on their widespread distribution it has long been assumed that Fibonacci spirals were an ancient feature that evolved in the earliest land plants and became highly conserved in plants. Sunflower heads, pinecones, pineapples and succulent houseplants all include these distinctive spirals in their flower petals, leaves or seeds. Spirals are common in plants, with Fibonacci spirals making up over 90% of the spirals. Named after the Italian mathematician, Leonardo Fibonacci, this sequence forms the basis of many of nature's most efficient and stunning patterns. Whether it is the vast swirl of a hurricane or the intricate spirals of the DNA double-helix, spirals are common in nature and most can be described by the famous mathematical series the Fibonacci sequence. This negates a long-held theory about the evolution of plant leaf spirals, indicating that they evolved down two separate evolutionary paths. ![]() Instead, the ancient plants were found to have another type of spiral. The findings indicate that the arrangement of leaves into distinctive spirals, that are common in nature today, were not common in the most ancient land plants that first populated the Earth's surface. student at University College Cork (UCC) Holly-Anne Turner is the first author on the study and conducted the research while an undergraduate student and Research Assistant at the University of Edinburgh. ![]() In trees, the Fibonacci begins in the growth of the trunk and then spirals outward as the tree gets larger and taller.The research published in the journal Science overturns a long-held theory around a famous pattern in nature. Trees Photo from Joel & Jasmin Førestbird/UnsplashĪlthough we all usually see trees everywhere in our day to day, how often do we really look at them for patterns. When analyzing these spirals, the number is almost always Fibonacci. At points, their seed heads get so packed that their number can get exceptionally high, sometimes as much as 144 and more. A perfect example of this is sunflowers with their spiraling patterns. Most of the time, seeds come from the center and migrate out. Seed Heads Photo from Asgeir Pall Juliusson/UnsplashĪ flower’s head is also where you’ll find the Fibonacci sequence in plants. Of the most visible Fibonacci sequence in plants, lilies, which have three petals, and buttercups, with their five petals, are some of the most easily recognized. The petals of a flower grow in a manner consistent with the Fibonacci. Flower Petals Photo from Alfiano Sutianto/Unsplash Each cone has its own set of spirals moving outwards in opposing directions. When looking closely at the seed pod of a pinecone, you’ll notice an arranged spiral pattern. ![]() Pinecones Photo from Cameron Oxley/Unsplash The more they grow outward, the higher the Fibonacci sequence is visible. When growing off the branch, Fibonacci can be viewed in their stems as well as their veins. The Fibonacci sequence in plants is quite abundant, and leaves are one of the best examples. Although the Fibonacci sequence (aka Golden Ratio) doesn’t appear in every facet of known structures, it does in many, and this is especially true for plants. The Fibonacci sequence’s ratios and patterns (phi=1.61803…) are evident from micro to macro scales all over our known universe. The Fibonacci sequence was initially developed by Leonardo Fibonacci while he was calculating the expansion of groups of rabbits over a year. ![]()
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