Interactive Primary Newsletter 35

Interactive Primary Newsletter 35
Nature's Numbers (Fibonacci frolics)

Flooer frolics
Now that Spring is coming and plants are starting to grow, why not go outside and try to find some early flowers. You may notice that the number of petals on any flower head correspond to one of the Fibonacci numbers. Some of the ones to look out for are :-

3 petals - Flowers of the Lily family have three petals and three similar coloured sepals and so appear to be six petalled. Bluebells, or Wild Hyacinth in Scotland, are also like this.
5 petals - e.g. Geranium, Pansy, Primrose, Buttercup.
8 petals - e.g. Celandine, Starflower, Delphinium.

Figure 1 - Snowdrop 3 petals
Figure 2 - Petunia 5 petals

Figure 3 - Tulip - 3 petals & 3 sepals
Figure 4 - Try counting this lot!

What look like petals on a daisy are actually separate florets. Wild varieties may have 34 of these whereas cultivated ones in gardens may have 13, 21, 34, 55 or 89 - just try counting the number of florets on a typical dandelion - she loves me, she loves me not .... (Fig. 4).

Figure 5 - Card leaves arranged round a retort stand
Figure 6 - Looking from above

You may also notice that plant leaves grow in an arrangement which corresponds to the Fibonacci sequence. Looking from above they can be seen to be arranged in a spiral pattern round the stem. Working up the stem, it’s not until you get to leaf number nine that one leaf is directly above the first one counted. In this case there are eight leaves in five spiral turns. This arrangement means that each leaf gets the maximum possible share of the sunlight. (Figs. 5 & 6). Using leaves made of card and stems of garden canes to make 3D records of the leaves on the plant encourages your students’ careful observation of the arrangement of the leaves (in pairs, singly etc.).

Seeds 'n Shells

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Interactive Primary Newsletter 35 Nature's Numbers (Fibonacci frolics)
Flooer frolics Now that Spring is coming and plants are starting to grow, why not go outside and try to find some early flowers. You may notice that the number of petals on any flower head correspond to one of the Fibonacci numbers. Some of the ones to look out for are :- 3 petals - Flowers of the Lily family have three petals and three similar coloured sepals and so appear to be six petalled. Bluebells, or Wild Hyacinth in Scotland, are also like this. 5 petals - e.g. Geranium, Pansy, Primrose, Buttercup. 8 petals - e.g. Celandine, Starflower, Delphinium.
Figure 1 - Snowdrop 3 petals	Figure 2 - Petunia 5 petals
Figure 3 - Tulip - 3 petals & 3 sepals	Figure 4 - Try counting this lot!
What look like petals on a daisy are actually separate florets. Wild varieties may have 34 of these whereas cultivated ones in gardens may have 13, 21, 34, 55 or 89 - just try counting the number of florets on a typical dandelion - she loves me, she loves me not .... (Fig. 4).
Figure 5 - Card leaves arranged round a retort stand	Figure 6 - Looking from above
You may also notice that plant leaves grow in an arrangement which corresponds to the Fibonacci sequence. Looking from above they can be seen to be arranged in a spiral pattern round the stem. Working up the stem, it’s not until you get to leaf number nine that one leaf is directly above the first one counted. In this case there are eight leaves in five spiral turns. This arrangement means that each leaf gets the maximum possible share of the sunlight. (Figs. 5 & 6). Using leaves made of card and stems of garden canes to make 3D records of the leaves on the plant encourages your students’ careful observation of the arrangement of the leaves (in pairs, singly etc.). Seeds 'n Shells