This phyllotactic pattern creates an optical effect of criss-crossing spirals. The most famous example is the sunflower head. Examples can be found in composite flowers and seed heads. This tends to occur with a basal configuration. With larger Fibonacci pairs, the pattern becomes complex and non-repeating. The number of leaves is sometimes called rank, in the case of simple Fibonacci ratios, because the leaves line up in vertical rows. The numerator and denominator normally consist of a Fibonacci number and its second successor. In beech and hazel the angle is 1/3, in oak and apricot it is 2/5, in sunflowers, poplar, and pear, it is 3/8, and in willow and almond the angle is 5/13.
#Fibonacci spiral cactus full#
The rotational angle from leaf to leaf in a repeating spiral can be represented by a fraction of a full rotation around the stem.Īlternate distichous leaves will have an angle of 1/2 of a full rotation. A basal whorl with a large number of leaves spread out in a circle is called a rosette. Ī whorl can occur as a basal structure where all the leaves are attached at the base of the shoot and the internodes are small or nonexistent. Examples of trees with whorled phyllotaxis are Brabejum stellatifolium and the related genus Macadamia. The whorled arrangement is fairly unusual on plants except for those with particularly short internodes. Among the most common we find nopales ( Opuntia ficus-indica) and its juicy prickly pears the pitahaya ( Selenicereus megalanthus) and kalanchoe ( Kalanchoe integra), which is said to prevent cancer.Īlthough the green color is the most common, you can find an array of hues in succulents.Decussate phyllotaxis of Crassula rupestris Some succulents are even edible as well as their fruits. The agave ( Agave tequilana) is the precious source for the quintessential Mexican distillate, tequila, as well as fibers that are used in the textile industry ( Agave sisalana).
#Fibonacci spiral cactus skin#
To give a couple of examples: Aloe leaves are used in skin care and beauty products, as well as an aid in the treatment of skin burns. It is important that you be careful not to remove this thin protective film, as it takes a long time for it to form again.Īlthough they are beautiful ornamental plants, succulents offer a wide range of benefits and uses. They are often related to the genus Cactaceae, but not all succulents are cacti -only 2,000 of the + 10,000 species belong to that genus- yet, all cacti have the particularities of being a succulent.Įpicuticular wax or farina, that thin, dust-like layer that covers the leaves of some succulents, protects them from the sun and dehydration. Their name is applied to any plant with the characteristic of having fleshy leaves that function as water reservoirs to resist droughts. We share some interesting facts about these beautiful specimens from the plant kingdom, -that you may not know: More than 10,000 species of succulents in the worldĬontrary to what we might suppose, succulents are not a genus of plants. In Asia they are considered as a symbol of wealth and prosperity, and are often offered as a gift to bless a business or home to invoke abundance of money. Many cultures consider succulents to hold a symbolism within: in the western world these plants represent endurance and timeless, as they are capable of withstanding the most adverse weather conditions. The perfect geometry in many of them replicates the Fibonacci spiral known as the golden ratio, which makes them so beautiful and harmonious. Just hearing the name, one feels inspired to have a succulent garden at home.
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