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Dandelion

The document discusses how dandelion seeds are arranged in Fibonacci spirals, with 13 clockwise curves and 21 counterclockwise curves matching the Fibonacci sequence. Nature commonly uses Fibonacci numbers to optimize how seeds and petals are arranged to maximize reproduction. The Fibonacci sequence appears throughout nature in patterns of seeds, flowers, pinecones, shells, and other biological forms as an example of how mathematics underlies many natural phenomena.

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Keith W Barnwell
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170 views

Dandelion

The document discusses how dandelion seeds are arranged in Fibonacci spirals, with 13 clockwise curves and 21 counterclockwise curves matching the Fibonacci sequence. Nature commonly uses Fibonacci numbers to optimize how seeds and petals are arranged to maximize reproduction. The Fibonacci sequence appears throughout nature in patterns of seeds, flowers, pinecones, shells, and other biological forms as an example of how mathematics underlies many natural phenomena.

Uploaded by

Keith W Barnwell
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Getting Mathematical on Weeds.

Dandelions amaze me. We tend to take them for granted. Huh. Theyre just stupid weeds. , many of us might say.

But if you look closer, theyre actually quite beautiful.

And if you zoom in REALLY close, youll find something even more amazing.

Notice, theres definitely a spiral pattern there. If you connect the dots, you can definitely count 13 curves in the clockwise direction.

But if you connect the dots in a counter-clockwise direction, you get 21 curves.

Now, remember those numbers, (13 and 21), while I digress for a bit. Consider this mathematical sequence of numbers. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89. For those of you who dont recognize this, these are Fibonacci numbers, where any given number is the sum of the previous two. Its quite simple: 0+1=1 1+1=2 1+2=3 2+ 3 = 5and so on.

Now, if you draw a series of squares, based on the Fibonacci sequence, and you get something like this:

And if you draw a continuous arc though each square, it forms a spiral seashell pattern, like this:

a This is called the Fibonacci Spiral Now, lets take my 13 clockwise red-curves:

And if I take them, one by one, and superimpose them on the Fibonacci Spiral, I get this:

Kinda fits, doesnt it?

Same thing if I take the 21 counterclockwise curves

Again, each curve also seems to fit, when superimposed on the counter-clockwise Fibonacci spiral:

Now, lets just recap: I zoomed in on a photo or a dandelion, connected dots and generated some rough curves. And the shape of these curves fit a spiral based on the Fibonacci sequence. Not to mention, the number of clockwise and counter-clockwise spirals are 13 and 21. Which are Fibonacci numbers themselves. Whats going on here? Is this magic? Or a fluke? aa Actually, this is no accident. You see, Nature tends to like Fibonacci numbers. For example, you rarely see flowers with 4 or 6 petals. But you see many with 3, 5 or 8.

Flowers seed pods are also arranged this way. The number of spirals are always Fibonacci numbersone clockwise, one counterclockwise. In this case, with my dandelion, it was 13 and 21. With larger flowers (like Sunflowers), youll find numbers 34 and 55. But why Fibonacci numbers? Basically, it has to do with Nature trying to optimize itself. With flowers, if seeds are arranged in Fibonacci spirals, you can fit more of them onto the plant, and you get more bang for your buck. Theres a goodinteractive exercise that demonstrates this. I wont get into the whole mathematical explanation. But you can find some good discussions here and here. Its not just dandelions. Youll also find Fibonacci sequences with pine cones, pineapples and asparagus and seashells. Plant leaves are arranged in Fibonnacci spirals, to optimize the sunlight they recieve. Fibonacci numbers are everywher in Nature More examples are shown here. a Its pretty amazing, when you think about it. Take an abstract concept. A sequence of pure, unadulterated numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34. And its architecture upon which much of Creation is built. Its staring at us, in our face.

The miracle of Pure Math, combined with Mother Nature. Even with a lowly dandelion. ..and THATs why they amaze me.

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