Page 83 - Photosynthesis: The Green Miracle
P. 83
Harun Yahya
The number of turns beginning from one leaf, turning around the
stem until reaching another leaf at the same direction, and the
numbers of leaves encountered during any one complete cir-
cle gives a Fibonacci number. If we begin counting from the
opposite direction, then we obtain the same number of
leaves, but with a different number of turns. The number of
turns in both directions and the number of leaves en-
countered during these turns gives three consecutive
Fibonacci numbers.
er. The order in the arrangement of the leaves around the
stem is set out in specific numbers according to what in bot-
any is known as leaf divergence. This sequence in leaves is based on a com-
plex calculation. If N is the number of turns from one leaf around the stem
until we come to another leaf on the same plane, and if P is the number of
leaves on each turn, then P/N is referred to as leaf divergence. These lev-
els are ? in grasses, 1/3 in marsh plants, 2/5 in fruit trees (for example, ap-
ples), 3/8 in species of bananas, and 5/13 in bulbous plants. 27
The way that every tree from the same species implements the ratio
set out for its own species is a great miracle. How, for example, does a ba-
1 In the plant shown at the top of the pic-
ture (left), we need to make three turns
in a clockwise direction in order to
5
4 3 reach the leaf immediately above the
4
first leaf, and we pass five leaves en
3
route. Moving in an anti-clockwise di-
2 5 rection we need only two turns. If you
1 2 notice, the numbers 2, 3 and 5 obtained
are Fibonacci numbers.
1 8 In the plant below we make five clock-
4 7 wise turns passing eight leaves, and
6
three turns in the other direction around
7 6
the stem. This time, we obtain the con-
4 5
3 secutive Fibonacci numbers 3, 5 and 8.
8
3 We can express these results for the
2 5 plant above as each leaf making a 3/5
2
1 clockwise turn, and for the second
plant, each leaf making a 5/8 turn
around the stem.
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