Emergence of the Golden Angle in Flower Heads
Abstract
Phyllotaxis—the arrangement of plant organs around their supporting axes—is an important attribute of plant architecture. Recent experimental data show that the first phase of typical phyllotactic pattern development in flower heads can be abstracted as an extension of the Fibonacci substitution L→LS,S→L. We demonstrate that the most intriguing geometric feature of phyllotaxis, the golden angle between the emerging organs, is a mathematical consequence of this substitution process.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Advanced Mathematical Theories and Applications
Mathematical Dynamics and Fractals
Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
Publication details
- Journal / source
- American Mathematical Monthly
- Volume
- 133
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 303–314
- Publication date
- 5 February 2026
- Language
- EN