The Fibonacci Sequence in Nature
It has been used to describe everything from the length of petals on flowers to the arrangement of leaves on a stem
The Fibonacci Sequence in Nature is a set of numbers that begins with zero and one. It has been used to describe everything from the length of petals on flowers to the arrangement of leaves on a stem. It also predicts population growth and stock market trends, so it’s easy to imagine why this particular set of numbers would be necessary for nature.
The Fibonacci sequence is one of many, and there are different ways to find it. The below examples show just a few examples of the Fibonacci sequence in nature:
Petal Counts
Many flowers have petals that follow the Fibonacci Sequence. This mathematical arrangement is because the number of spirals around each flower stem is a Fibonacci number. For example, a daisy has eight petals that spiral around each other. To find the next one, you count up two petals from the first to get nine and then count up three more to get twelve.
Leaf Arrangement
Leaf arrangement is another example of the Fibonacci sequence in nature. Most plants have their leaves arranged in two opposite spirals. For example, a sunflower has eight leaves that spiral up the stem and 17 more leaves below those. To find the next one, you count up two to get nine and then count up four more to get 13 — or three for 21 and five for 25.
Population Growth
The Fibonacci sequence can predict population growth because each number in the series is the sum of its two predecessors. For example, if you start with one rabbit and another pregnant rabbit who gives birth after a month, they will also have a new generation of rabbits after a month. For their population to grow exponentially, this sequence must follow the Fibonacci sequence.
Stock Market Trends
The Fibonacci sequence also predicts stock market trends because each number in series is the sum of its two predecessors. For example, if you start with one company that makes $1 million after a month and another company does as well, they will have a combined net worth of $2 million after a month as well. For their net worth to grow exponentially, the sequence must follow the Fibonacci sequence.
The above examples show some of the many ways that you can find the Fibonacci Sequence in nature. The numbers seem to be used to predict population growth and future trends in the stock market, but they also provide clues about how certain plants and animals evolved.
