Fibonacci Phyllotaxis

Do you remember the Fibonacci numbers from earlier? There is another way that Fibonacci numbers relate to plant growth. There are two formations of leaf patterns which relevant to the Fibonacci numbers.

Spiral Phyllotaxis

Multijugate Phyllotaxis

Approximately 92% of plants with multijugate and spiral phyllotaxis have Fibonacci phyllotaxis. The leaves of plants grow in certain patterns which allow the leaves to access the most sunlight as possible. The leaves will rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The leaf arrangement for the sprial phyllotaxis example is 2/3. This means that there are two spirals are winding counter clockwise and three spirals are moving clockwise. The number of spirals will be two consecutive Fibonacci numbers.