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Symmetry is usually defined as a sense of "balanced proportions" or "the quality of having parts that match each other," especially in an attractive way. And, when you think about it, it is all around us. Whether we look at human beings, architecture, art, or biology, there’s nothing more fascinating than seeing how the world is full of perfect forms and harmony.

So if you’re a true symmetry lover who loves flawless patterns and wants some order back in their lives, we've got you covered. Today, Bored Panda brings you a list of perfectly geometrical plants that reveal the true beauty of Mother Nature and let us appreciate how special it is.

From the most vivid colors to satisfying shapes, here are some eye-catching images for you to enjoy. Continue scrolling, upvote the ones that soothed your soul, and let us know what you think about them in the comments below! When you’re done with this list, don’t forget to check out Part 1 of this post right here.

#1

My Neighbor's Tree Has The Perfect Fall Gradient

My Neighbor's Tree Has The Perfect Fall Gradient

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#3

The Symmetry On Aloe Polyphylla Is Crazy

The Symmetry On Aloe Polyphylla Is Crazy

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To learn more about plants and why they grow in such a mesmerizing way, we reached out to Johan Gielis, a Belgian scientist, professor, and author of The Geometrical Beauty of Plants. He was kind enough to have a little chat and share some insights about the balance and harmony we see in the natural world. Gielis started by mentioning that there are several variants of symmetry, but the most common ones are radial and bilateral (mirror) symmetry. 

The radial pattern consists of circular symmetry. When we look down from the top at such a plant, we can see that we could cut it equally from a central point, like you would cut a pie into the same-sized pieces. 

The bilateral pattern means that the plant is equal on both sides if we cut it down the middle. In other words, it resembles a mirror effect. If you want to picture it, draw an imaginary line right down the middle of your face and follow it down your spine. You’ll see that your body looks just about the same on both sides, except for some minor scars, moles, and freckles. 

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#4

Chemistree

Chemistree

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#6

The Night Sky Petunia. A Real Flower Whose Petals Resemble Galaxies

The Night Sky Petunia. A Real Flower Whose Petals Resemble Galaxies

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Wesley Lucas
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had 2 pots of these a few summers ago. They're gorgeous! Just don't let them get full sun because the flowers will become all white. They need a good amount of shade to stay looking galactic.

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Environmentalist and microbiologist Swanandee Nulkar wrote that flowers alter their appearance because of their need to attract pollinators. "Evolutionary biologists have observed that floral symmetries have changed over many generations from being radial or bilateral to even asymmetric," she wrote. "Scientists have also found that bilateral flowers facilitated pollinator landing."

Nulkar mentioned a study performed on bumblebees, where "the results showed that bees preferred these more symmetric flowers, owing to their greater nectar-producing capacity." It seems that insects prefer symmetry because of its appeal. "A diverse genome is nature’s most favored pick," she added. 

#8

These Leaves In This Tree

These Leaves In This Tree

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Loty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a crazy effect. Makes me want to put my glasses on even though I know it wont help.

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#10

Hala Fruit: The Fruit That Looks Like An Exploding Planet

Hala Fruit: The Fruit That Looks Like An Exploding Planet

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When asked about why plants grow geometrically, Johan Gielis told us that there are both genetic and developmental components. He provided an example: "On the genetic side, one has Antirhinnum majus, which is the very standard flower for the common snapdragon. One variant—A. majus cycloidea—has a symmetrical flower."

He continued that during the evolution of the plant, deviations may also become prevalent. However, "one of the plant groups with almost no deviations during [their] development is the wonderful Asclepiad," otherwise known as milkweed. 

#12

A Flower I Found In Hawaii A Few Months Ago

A Flower I Found In Hawaii A Few Months Ago

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#13

This Absolutely Perfect Flower Is Right Around The Corner From My House

This Absolutely Perfect Flower Is Right Around The Corner From My House

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When you walk around in the natural world, you see patterns everywhere you look. It is often said that the Fibonacci sequence rules the growth of the plants and connects all living things. While it may sound confusing, the Fibonacci sequence is actually not that difficult to understand. It is a series of numbers where each one is the sum of the previous two. Starting from 0 and 1, the sequence looks like this: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, and continues to infinity. 

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#15

This Mushroom Photographed From Down Below

This Mushroom Photographed From Down Below

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#16

Underside Of Victoria Amazonica's Lilypad (Up To 200 Cm In Diameter) — Satisfying Ant Terrifying At The Same Time. Veiny Alien Plant-Flesh

Underside Of Victoria Amazonica's Lilypad (Up To 200 Cm In Diameter) — Satisfying Ant Terrifying At The Same Time. Veiny Alien Plant-Flesh

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#17

Sunflowers Are Actually Made Up Hundreds Of Smaller Flowers In Near-Perfect Symmetry

Sunflowers Are Actually Made Up Hundreds Of Smaller Flowers In Near-Perfect Symmetry

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This sequence is extremely persistent in nature and can be easily noticed in the placement of leaves along the stem, in pine cones, sunflowers, and pineapples. Plus, if you’ve ever heard of the Golden Ratio, it is tightly connected with this sequence. When thinking about the origins of this number, "Leonardo of Pisa [Fibonacci's full name] did not actually discover the sequence," Keith Devlin, a mathematician at Stanford University, said. "It's been around forever."

#18

Nature’s Geometry

Nature’s Geometry

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#19

Found This "Veiled Lady" Mushroom On A Hike This Morning Near Seoul, South Korea

Found This "Veiled Lady" Mushroom On A Hike This Morning Near Seoul, South Korea

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#20

A Simple Plant With A Satisfying Shape

A Simple Plant With A Satisfying Shape

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PandaJon
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fiona opened her eye only to realize she had been captured by the enemy

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#21

This Diseased Leaf That Looks Pixilated

This Diseased Leaf That Looks Pixilated

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"Fibonacci numbers are a very popular subject of research and recreation, and one can find innumerable articles in mathematics, science, architecture, and the arts," Johan Gielis told Bored Panda. 

"Especially in the latter fields, they have achieved an almost divine status, because of the relation to the golden mean. From a scientific point of view, however, one needs to be very cautious in the application of the series to actual natural or cultural phenomena."  

He continued: "For example, in the arrangement of leaves, the Fibonacci numbers relate the number of spirals going in one direction, to the number of spirals in the other. In a large-scale experiment of popular science, with over 600 sunflowers only 3 out of 4 of the parastichies on sunflowers were direct Fibonacci numbers. The other 1/4 were approximate or modified Fibonacci and Lucas numbers, derived series, or irregular."

#23

It's Hard To Tell Where One Plant Ends And Another Begins. Crassula Capitella Is A Geometric Wonder

It's Hard To Tell Where One Plant Ends And Another Begins. Crassula Capitella Is A Geometric Wonder

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#24

These Forget-Me-Not’s Grew In A Heart Shape

These Forget-Me-Not’s Grew In A Heart Shape

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#25

First Prize Winning Dahlia, Grown By My Dad

First Prize Winning Dahlia, Grown By My Dad

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So it seems that nature and math go hand in hand. "As humans, we build models of nature, and our language is indeed mathematical," the professor said. "Mathematics is the ultimate human language," he added, saying that without humans, there would be no math.

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When asked why we enjoy looking at geometrical and symmetrical plants and find them incredibly pleasing to the eye, Gielis told us that it’s because of our preference for symmetry. But it also has a cultural component: "Different cultures may have a different idea of beauty. What we learn is what we will prefer later," he concluded. 

#29

Flower I Found This Morning

Flower I Found This Morning

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So while we try to grasp how such incredible patterns in nature are formed, we can also take our time to appreciate the many wonders it can offer. Whether flowers are symmetrical or not, they are still mesmerizing to look at. So we hope that with posts like these, you will be reminded of how beautiful nature really is.

#30

The Inside Structure Of This Plant

The Inside Structure Of This Plant

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#32

This Nearly Perfect Dahlia I Spotted At A Local Park

This Nearly Perfect Dahlia I Spotted At A Local Park

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#34

The Rare Purple Cauliflower. Its Signature Color Comes From The Same Antioxidant Found In Red Cabbage And Red Wine: Anthocyanin

The Rare Purple Cauliflower. Its Signature Color Comes From The Same Antioxidant Found In Red Cabbage And Red Wine: Anthocyanin

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#35

The Perfect Symmetry Of This Plant

The Perfect Symmetry Of This Plant

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#37

Found That In My Garden - I Think It's Pretty

Found That In My Garden - I Think It's Pretty

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Jon S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blew my mind the first time I saw one of these. It struck me as something out of Alice in Wonderland.

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K
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Germany it's called: Schachbrettblume (chessboardflower?)

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Max
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It gives off cottagecore Valentine's Day date vibes for me

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Tomas Aarnio
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like it's a bomb and then when it explodes it shoots out alot of purple gas. That's what I had in my mind

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Betsy Novack
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know it pops into action in the Garden Burlesque Show after dark.

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Izzy's Maid
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The PNW is a type of Frittilaria, but there are quite a few different species around the world. Interesting thing is they kinda stink if you get close enough because they send off a stench like dead stuff so that flies pay a visit and end up pollinating other flowers! So flies actually do something useful here (besides being food for bigger things, which is all else I can think the pests are good for).

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Peej Maybe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love these. We call them "Snakes Head Fritillaries" over here in the UK and I'm lucky enough to live where they grow in abundance in the wild. Always love the pattern of them (the white ones are also beautiful)

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Issac Vazquez-Roman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's good. These flowers are increasingly rare in the wild so it's nice to know that they flourish somewhere.

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#38

The Lines And Symmetry Of This Plant Is Just Mesmerizing

The Lines And Symmetry Of This Plant Is Just Mesmerizing

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PandaJon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The aliens waited patiently to mesmerize it's victims before opening their maws to engulf their pray

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#39

Lapidaria Margaretae, Looks Trippy, We're Gonna Collect All The Geometric Looking Succulents Now

Lapidaria Margaretae, Looks Trippy, We're Gonna Collect All The Geometric Looking Succulents Now

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#41

Unedited Flower In My Front Garden

Unedited Flower In My Front Garden

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#42

The Petals Of This Camellia Flower

The Petals Of This Camellia Flower

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#43

This Symmetrical Leaf On My Philodendron

This Symmetrical Leaf On My Philodendron

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#44

Geometry In Nature

Geometry In Nature

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#45

This Disco-Ball-Looking Flower In Australia

This Disco-Ball-Looking Flower In Australia

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#46

Top View Of This Plant Is A Perfect Star Shape

Top View Of This Plant Is A Perfect Star Shape

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Ethan Lang
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a jump pad in some sort of video game, very lovely.

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#47

Asiatic Lily And It’s Spectacular Radial Symmetry

Asiatic Lily And It’s Spectacular Radial Symmetry

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#48

Anyone Else Finding It Satisfying When Plants Pop Symmetrical Patterns? Monstera Producing Only Half Moons Left-Right-Left-Right. My Ocd Is Screaming From Joy

Anyone Else Finding It Satisfying When Plants Pop Symmetrical Patterns? Monstera Producing Only Half Moons Left-Right-Left-Right. My Ocd Is Screaming From Joy

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#49

Astrophytum Is My Love. I Collect Them

Astrophytum Is My Love. I Collect Them

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#50

Geometric Products Of The Mayan Jungles

Geometric Products Of The Mayan Jungles

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Note: this post originally had 130 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.