Plants : 2-D Spirals: {3-D Spirals}

The seeds of sunflowers form a double spiral pattern on an essentially two-dimensional surface. A similar pattern covers the three-dimensional surfaces of artichokes, pineapples, and pine cones. The scales or leaves of artichokes form two sets of spirals, one clockwise and one counterclockwise. The numbers of spirals in each direction are adjacent Fibonacci numbers, usually 3 and 5 or 5 and 8.

The scales that cover the surface of pine cones form two sets of spirals, sometimes even three sets of spirals. The numbers of spirals in each set are often adjacent Fibonacci numbers. Similarly, pineapples are covered in roughly hexagonal scales, arranged in three sets of spirals. The numbers of spirals in each set tend to be adjacent Fibonacci numbers. For the double spirals on a cauliflower, try this outside link.

Continue upwards in the tree: {3-D spirals}
Downwards in the tree: {Plants}


(Sources for this page: Koshy, Thomas. Artichoke image, <cucinare.com>; pinecone image, <ericandleandra.com>; top view of pine cone, <missmaggie.org>; pineapple image, <botany.hawaii.edu>. See bibliography.)