5

Does the number of leaves on a branch follow Fibonacci numbers from top to bottom? Or is there more to nature than I really see it.

This question came up after reading this article:

Aidan Dwyer took a hike through the trees last winter and took notice of patterns in the mangle of branches. His studies into how they branch in very specific ways lead him to a central guiding formula, the Fibonacci sequence.

—13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

The kid in the above article states that he planted tiny solar panels in the form of a tree and it followed the Fibonacci series. But I really do not get the connection between the Fibonacci series and the tree structure as a whole.

Improve this question
3
  • britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/fibslide/jbfibslide.htm
    – RedGrittyBrick
    Commented Oct 16, 2012 at 20:24
  • 2
    There are many web-sites that repeat the assertion about Fibonacci numbers appearing in nature. IMO, however, it would be good to have a more educational reference that explains how simple rules that maximise the surface area of petals/branches/leaves lead to fibonacci sequences. I recall reading an excellent explanation, but have failed to find it.
    – Oddthinking ♦
    Commented Oct 18, 2012 at 13:05
  • Thank you for editing. I though it question was lost for the initial down votes until now.
    – Filip
    Commented Oct 30, 2012 at 13:52

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
8

Vi Hart (Wikipedia biography) has produce a three part series of videos describing this phenomenon, called Doodling in Math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant.

It explores the nature of spirals, Fibonacci and the patterns seen in plants.

The third part in the series describe how this phenomena can be explained with a simple model of growth hormone.

Now, this isn't a formal academic document, but Hart provides a follow-up video containing appropriate references. If the goal of a good Skeptics.SE answer is to popularise scientific results, while retaining rigour, Vi Hart achieves this goal better than I ever will, so I am happy to defer to these videos as an answer.

Improve this answer
5

Head over to this web page : Fibonacci Numbers and Nature

Look at the 'Leaf arrangements' sections . You can clearly see that the leave arrangements and the turn of leaves both follow Fibonacci sequence and also note the section 'Always Fibonacci? ' You will find that Nature is too unpredictable to always follow Fibonacci number.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .