Phyllotactic patterns generated by different irrational divergence angles

Phyllotactic patterns generated by two different irrational divergence angles:
(patterns generated by a Pascal program written by Chad Husby)


A divergence angle of (137.509...º) = 360º/(2.618...) (the 'Golden Angle', based on the ' Golden Section ') produces an efficient packing of primordia. This divergence angle generates the elegant Fibonacci spiral pattern frequently observed in plants.	A divergence angle of (114.591...º)= (360º/pi) produces a much less efficient packing of primordia. This is because pi is a less irrational number than the 'Golden Section'!

If you have any comments or questions, please contact the author, Chad Husby ( chad.husby@fiu.edu or husby.1@osu.edu )

Last modified August 11, 2002