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View Full Version : Sacred Geometry...of Bananas?


LilRaverBoi
10-20-2009, 05:59 PM
I don't know if any of you have ever studied/researched sacred geometry, but basically it looks at the mathematical equations/relations behind life forms found on Earth and how these relations have been adopted in art, architecture, religion, etc.

This is something that is of great interest to me and though it might sound like hocus pocus, it is pretty legit. For instance...the shell of a chambered nautilus (pictured below) is formed in a logarithmic spiral. This can be mathematically graphed and plotted directly over the shell and is very accurate. Also, a lot of plants, including ferns use fractal patterns in their leaves. Similarly, the patterns of branching of trees and blood vessels in animal's bodies also follow fractal patterns that can be mathematically mapped with distinct accuracy. These are just a few examples...there are many more.

http://www.kensmithart.com/images/Nautilus.jpg

So I have began predicting where the next leaf of my Ice Cream banana will lean based on the preexisting geometries I can roughly estimate from the existing leaves. It seems each new leaf emerges approximately 170 degrees clockwise from the previous leaf when the plant is viewed from above. I have predicted all the recent leaves quite accurately.

Just wondering if any of you have ever tried this, or at least find it interesting. Maybe you just think I'm too nerdy for my own good! :ha: Either way, if you do not know anything about sacred geometry, I suggest researching it....there are some great books published on the topic....and it's very interesting!

Gabe15
10-20-2009, 06:11 PM
Its true the phyllotaxy of banana leaves follow a sort of double-helix pattern, so they are quite predictable. They are opposite in sets of 2, so basicaly 2 leaves will be in line with eachother while the next set of 2 will be in line with eachother but at an angle from the previous set (unless you are growing the 'Double Cavendish' and a few other weird ones which can sometimes follow a completely opposite phyllotaxy pattern). However, the bracts generally follow a triple-helix pattern.

So basically, ya...you are totally right. Heres a little wikipedia article on phyllotaxy and Fibonacci numbers...kinda related

Phyllotaxis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllotaxis#Repeating_spiral)

moonboy87
10-20-2009, 06:24 PM
I love the study of sacred geometry. Just seems a lot more interesting than relating math to something contrived.

CValentine
10-20-2009, 06:35 PM
Thanks!!! COOL STUFF!! :) ~Cheryl

Richard
10-20-2009, 10:47 PM
By the way, fractals is a whole category of mathematics -- in the same way that differential calculus is a category of mathematics. One common application of fractals is the design of cell phone antennas.