Who said math can’t be interesting? Fractals like these can seem too perfect to be true, but they occur in nature and plants all the time and are examples of math, physics, and natural selection at work!

When we see order in the world, we think it must be some human hand that made it so. But Galileo Galilei in his Il Saggiatore wrote, “[The universe] is written in the language of mathematics, and its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures.” There is order in nature, and artists who want to reproduce it faithfully spend hours studying nature’s forms.

Civilization has struggled to understand this perfect geometry for thousands of years. In the 4th century, Plato believed that symmetry in nature was proof of universal forms; in 1952, the famous code-breaker Alan Turing wrote a book trying to explain how such patterns in nature could be formed.

Now you can join in the debate. Upvote your favorite photo from the list, or upload your own!

#1

Aloe Polyphylla

Aloe Polyphylla

namraka Report

VilémRein
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Almost all of the pictures contain spirals of leaves or flowers. The spirals are mathematically described as Fibbonaci spirals and these are formed due to specific angels in which new organs are formed at the border region of the shoot apical meristem of the plant. The angle is given by the genotype and the places where are the primordia of the new organs formed are characterized by formation of a local high concentration of the plant hormone auxin. And because the plant maintains the shoot apical meristem throughout its life, there are new structures also in old plants formed in this regular shape (the only precondition is there is no damage close to the apical meristem.

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#2

Romanesco Broccoli

Romanesco Broccoli

Didier Kobi Report

#3

Crassula Buddha's Temple Plant

Crassula Buddha's Temple Plant

Grenville Report

#4

Amazon Lily Pad

Amazon Lily Pad

Amazon Lily Pad

imgkid.com Report

#5

Dahlia

Dahlia

amazon2008 Report

DariaB
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like it will make sounds if I squeeze it.

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#6

Flowers Like Jeweled Carpet

Flowers Like Jeweled Carpet

Morgan Glines Report

#7

Drosophyllum Lusitanicum

Drosophyllum Lusitanicum

ramamayoor Report

#8

Hoya Aldrichii

Hoya Aldrichii

John Tann Report

wildandfree
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love to eat the nectar from flowers of Hoya!

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#10

Sunflower

Sunflower

Luca Postpischl Report

#13

Thinking Cactus

Thinking Cactus

gigingir Report

LouVarner
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it looks like a brain to me. is that why it's called thinking cactus?

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#14

Viola Sacculus

Viola Sacculus

brcotte2007 Report

VilémRein
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, this was for me a new plant, I have never seen it before. For me a wonderful plant. Will immediately look for more info, about this miracle...

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#15

Ludwigia Sedioides

Ludwigia Sedioides

Donna Falcone Report

JoiPfost
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me want to learn to paint. It's so beautiful!

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#16

Lobelia

Lobelia

George F. Mobley Report

Colin Taylor
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"One bite and the Bishop was sick" (Sir Henry at Rawlinson End)

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#17

Succulents

Succulents

Jolina Report

#18

Pelecyphora Aselliformis

Pelecyphora Aselliformis

Peter Hunter Report

#21

Hoya Pubicalyx

Hoya Pubicalyx

Botanical Wonderland Report

#22

Alstroemeria Pelegrina

Alstroemeria Pelegrina

Florencia & Juan Report

17_csimpson
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cool I can't believe this. ITS A MIRACLE!!!!!

#23

Hoya Kerrii

Hoya Kerrii

Sandra Report

Rcatheron
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like sugar icing flowers on a cake!

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#24

Spiral Begonia

Spiral Begonia

elsewhereincuenca2.blogspot.com Report

MaryAliceLynch
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have neve seen a begonia like this. It is beautiful.

#25

Aeonium Tabuliforme

Aeonium Tabuliforme

David Szalay Report

McAllan Fungai Kusuwo
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nature is so cool, its practically magical.

#26

Fractal Cabbage

Fractal Cabbage

lumiparta Report

#27

Echinacea

Echinacea

Report

#28

Symetric Flowers

Symetric Flowers

Report

#30

Pinecone

Pinecone

Report

#31

Fearful Symmetry

Fearful Symmetry

500px.com Report

MaryAliceLynch
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the colors and the symetry. I like this one the best so far.

#32

Agave~tequila Plant

Agave~tequila Plant

Report

MerryMarjie
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, my favorite plant, in terms of productivity!

#33

Silversword

Silversword

500px.com Report

#34

Agave Angustifolia

Agave Angustifolia

Report

#35

Planta Mosaico - Ludwigia Sedioides

Planta Mosaico - Ludwigia Sedioides

Report

#36

Gerbera

Gerbera

Report

#37

Purple Fractal Cabbage

Purple Fractal Cabbage

media.bridgesandballoons.com Report

#38

B&w Dahlia

B&w Dahlia

Report

#39

Unfurling Tree Fern Frond, Madeira

Unfurling Tree Fern Frond, Madeira

Report

#40

Monstera Fruit

Monstera Fruit

Report

#41

Araucaria Arucana

Araucaria Arucana

www.flickr.com Report

#42

(another) Sunflover Mandala

(another) Sunflover Mandala

Report

#43

Colorful Cacti

Colorful Cacti

susanbaileyphoto.com Report

#45

Mandala

Mandala

Report

#46

Mimosa

Mimosa

Report

#47

Pinecone

Pinecone

Report

#49

Detail Of A Fern

Detail Of A Fern

Report

#51

Santan Flower

Santan Flower

Report

#52

Suculent

Suculent

Report

TravinMcKain
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is Dudleya pulverulenta “Chalk Liveforever”

#53

Water Forget-me-not

Water Forget-me-not

Report

#54

Protier

Protier

Report

#55

King Protea - Maui

King Protea - Maui

Report

chachkimooch
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WOW! Now that's an impressive flower!

#56

Geometric Leave.

Geometric Leave.

Report

#57

Magnolia

Magnolia

Report

#59

Arjareka Gibson- 7th Period

Arjareka Gibson- 7th Period

Report

#60

Oriental Lily

Oriental Lily

Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#61

Spiney Cactus

Spiney Cactus

Report

#62

White Malaysian Mums

White Malaysian Mums

Report

#63

Pine Candle

Pine Candle

Report

#64

Phillip Nguyen Pd.3

Phillip Nguyen Pd.3

Report

#65

Fractal Broccoli

Fractal Broccoli

en.wikipedia.org Report

#66

Farjana Kshuhboo

Farjana Kshuhboo

Report

#67

Farjana Kshuhboo P3

Farjana Kshuhboo P3

Report

#68

Andrew Bagwell 3rd

Andrew Bagwell 3rd

Report

#69

Camelia

Camelia

Report

#70

Barrel Cactus

Barrel Cactus

Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#71

Apple Core Cross Section

Apple Core Cross Section