SG205A Module Book 14 - SG in Nature - Part 1: Plants & Phyllotaxis
In plant morphogenesis, there is a special area of fascinating study: phyllotaxis - the geometric arrangement of leaves on a plant stem (or seeds in a seed head). A most striking phenomenon of harmonic regularities exhibiting a prevalent spiral pattern based on the Fibonacci series, phyllotaxis is also a hotly debated subject among scientists in term of WHY these patterns should be so widely used in the plant kingdom.
In Chapter 1 of SG205A, we explore the history of phyllotaxis, define the herms of what is now a pluri-disciplinary area of research, give basic examples, study the ubiquitous PHI-based "Growth Angle", visit the dynamics of phyllotactic emergence at the plant apex (or meristem), and glimpse some of the main explanations for this beautiful "harmonic mystery".
The following chapters give examples of geometric beauty in plants & flowers and take us on a journey through the exquisite universes of pollen & seeds as seen through scanning electron micrographs.
A deeper understanding of nature is arising: plants are not only displaying harmonic geometries out of functional efficiency, but also because they are the expression of a cosmic presence of unity & beauty. Plants (and all of nature) are holographically echoing the quantum oneness of the universe: they are soul experiences.