Spiral growth in plants: models and simulations

Author: Allen B.D.

Source: Teaching Mathematics and its Applications, Volume 23, Number 1, March 2004 , pp. 41-47(7)

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Abstract:

The analysis and simulation of spiral growth in plants integrates algebra and trigonometry in a botanical setting. When the ideas presented here are used in a mathematics classroom/computer lab, students can better understand how basic assumptions about plant growth lead to the golden ratio and how the use of circular functions leads to accurate spiral growth simulations. Using Mathematica, students can experiment, explore and discover how varying a small number of parameters leads to a wide variety of simulated plant forms. The Mathematica code presented here can be easily modified for experimentation and easily rewritten for use with other maths software packages such as Maple and Matlab.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2004-03-01

More about this publication?

The journal provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences which contribute to the improvement of mathematics teaching and learning for students from upper secondary/high school level through to university first degree level. A distinctive feature of the journal is its emphasis on the applications of mathematics and mathematical modelling within the context of mathematics education world-wide. The journal's readership consists of mathematics teachers, students, researchers and those concerned with curriculum development and assessment, indeed anyone concerned about the education of users of mathematics.