Romanesco broccoli
From Math Images
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Romanesco broccoli, by Jon Sullivan.
- Fractals appear in nature, and the Romanesco broccoli is a particularly obvious instance. Along with the fern, the surface of the Romanesco broccoli appears to arise from a fractal reiterated many times.
Found at Wikimedia Commons
Field: Fractals
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Further Description and Explanations
- K-12 Image Explanation
The Romanesco broccoli is a big spiral covered in the little spirals that are covered in even more little spirals, and so on until the plant cells cannot construct a spiral small enough. This is an example of a fractal in nature. Fractals are infinite series of numbers that repeat a pattern over and over again, just like the leaves on a fern or the spirals on this broccoli.
- Explanation for Undergraduates
- Note: understanding of this explanation requires: *Basic single variable calculus
The structure of the Romanesco broccoli is based on a fractal. The "meristems" branching from the main bud form logarithmic spirals.
About the Author
Jon Sullivan is a photographer who gives his photographs to the public domain.
Related Links
Other Materials By Jon Sullivan
What this Page Needs
- A more detailed or descriptive explanation that is suitable for upper level mathematics.
