The Fibonacci sequence arises frequently in nature, particularly in the arrangement of leaves on stems, flower petals, and the spiral patterns of pine cones and spiral galaxies. For example, the number of spirals in a pine cone or spiral galaxy often corresponds to Fibonacci numbers such as 8, 13, or 21.
These patterns help plants grow efficiently, aligning their leaves to maximize sunlight exposure and minimize shading from other parts of the plant.
Some interesting examples:
Drag the slider to change how many Fibonacci squares are shown on screen. Each square represents a Fibonacci number, with sizes growing according to the Fibonacci sequence.
Click on any square to see its Fibonacci value.