You
may notice that flowers have different numbered petals. The calla lily
has 1 petal, the Asiatic dayflower has 2 petals, the trillium has 3
petals, the buttercup has 5 petals, the bloodroot has 8 petals.
There's a pattern in these numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. Each number in the sequence is the sum of the two numbers before it. This sequence of numbers is the Fibonacci sequence.
Fibonacci numbers can be seen in nature through flower petal numbers.
Fibonacci numbers can also be seen in nature through spirals. If you count the spirals in any one direction in a pinecone, a pineapple, or the seeds in a sunflower, the total number of spirals will be a Fibonacci number.
Fibonacci numbers can also be seen in nature through spirals. If you count the spirals in any one direction in a pinecone, a pineapple, or the seeds in a sunflower, the total number of spirals will be a Fibonacci number.
Another type of spiral from Fibonacci numbers is from a rectangle created from the numbers. Starting from a square of a side of 1, then a side of 1, then a side of 2, and so forth, these squares circle around each other in sequence. A spiral is formed when you connect the corners of these squares. This type of spiral can be seen in nautilus shells.
Not everything follows Fibonacci numbers. However, the commonality of this pattern in nature has fascinated scientists for centuries.
Take a look in nature and see if you can spot Fibonacci numbers.
For more on Fibonacci numbers:
- What is the Fibonacci Sequence?
- How are Fibonacci Numbers Expressed in Nature?
- Fibonacci Numbers and Nature
- Fibonacci's Missing Flowers
