- Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena
Transcription
- Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena
Math. Model. Nat. Phenom. Vol. 6, No. 2, 2011, pp. 173–186 DOI: 10.1051/mmnp/20116207 The Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis P. Atela∗ Department of Mathematics, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063, USA Abstract. We present a dynamic geometric model of phyllotaxis based on two postulates, primordia formation and meristem expansion. We find that Fibonacci, Lucas, bijugate and multijugate are all variations of the same unifying phenomenon and that the difference lies on small changes in the position of initial primordia. We explore the set of all initial positions and color-code its points depending on the phyllotactic type of the pattern that arises. Key words: phyllotaxis, fibonacci, pattern formation, primordia, meristem AMS subject classification: 00, 51, 92C80 1. Introduction a b Figure 1: (a) Close view of a pine cone. (b) Palm tree in New Orleans. (c) Mathematical model. ∗ E-mail: [email protected] 173 Article published by EDP Sciences and available at http://www.mmnp-journal.org or http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/mmnp/20116207 c P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis The aim of this article is to extract the common geometrical and dynamical essence of some of the models of phyllotaxis (pattern formation) that have been studied in the past and propose a simple one, based on two main postulates. We are basing our model mainly on the studies of Douady and Couder [2, 3], who previously presented a compelling physical experiment involving magnetized drops of ferrofluid into a magnetized dish filled with silicone oil, producing phyllotactic patterns with Fibonacci numbers. In Botany, a phyllotactic pattern refers to the spiral patterns observed in pine cones, pineapples, asparagus, flowers, palm trees, artichoke, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, some cacti, aloe vera, etc. (see Figure 1). These patterns typically come as two visible sets of spirals winding in opposite directions (sometimes a third set is also clearly visible, as in the case of pineapples). These spirals are called parastichies. The surprising phenomenon that interests us here is that when counting the parallel parastichies (spirals) in these two sets, most often one gets two consecutive numbers of the Fibonacci sequence 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, . . .. By far, the Fibonacci pairs are the most common in nature. In some few cases two consecutive Lucas numbers 3, 4, 7, 11, . . . also appear. And there are specimens in which one sees consecutive pairs of the sequence 2, 4, 6, 10, 16, . . . (so– called Bijugate, two times the Fibonacci numbers), and also Multijugate. In these sequences, each number is the sum of the previous two. (For example, 3 + 5 = 8, 5 + 8 = 13, . . . and also 3 + 4 = 7, 4 + 7 = 11, etc.) We emphasize that, artificially, one can create a pattern that has any two numbers and it would have an appearance similar to the Fibonacci one in Figure 1c. However, in plants, when there are visible spirals, the pairs of numbers mentioned above are the ones that appear. Here in this introduction we give a schematic overview of what we understand happens as plants grow, starting at germination, and the geometric effects produced on phyllotactic patterns. We condense the main features into two postulates, which are stated below. Figure 2: On the left, primordia in a Norway spruce with the meristem at the tip of the shoot. Meristem’s diameter is here approx. 500 µm (Rolf Rutishauser, Univ. of Zurich). On the right, view from the top. The arrows point to two incipient primordia in the active meristem. Notice that they appear “in between” older existing primordia. As Hofmeister [4] observed, phyllotactic patterns are established at a microscopic scale as the botanical units called primordia appear at the periphery of the apical meristem, piling up on 174 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis the side of the stem as time passes (see Figures 1 and 2). One observes that, after this initial appearance, the whole structure that includes and sustains older primordia expands in size, but the local phyllotactic pattern that has already formed is preserved. In particular, each primordium maintains its neighbors. Following van Iterson[10], Snow&Snow[9], Douady&Couder[3], Atela, Golé & Hotton[1] and others (see also [6], [7], etc.), we think of the meristem as a circular region at the tip of the stem, which we assume axisymmetric, with primordia forming at its boundary (see Figure 2). It is useful to model primordia as circles with a given radius, but the important thing is the placement of the centers of these circles. (For implementations of Hofmeister’s periodic formation of primordia vs. Snow&Snow’s same size primordia appearing when there is enough space see, for example, Douady&Couder[3], Atela, Golé & Hotton[1], also Dumais et al.[5]). 1.1. Two postulates We suggest in this article that it is the dynamic combination of two main biological phenomena that influences phyllotaxis as a plant grows: we call them primordia appearance and meristem expansion. These form the basis of the dynamic geometric model that we present below. P1. Primordia appearance: Primordia appear with approximately the same size, “in between” older primordia at the periphery of the meristem (see Figures 1 and 2). In this paper we place primordia systematically by placing them following the principle of “in the first available” spot, the so–called Snow&Snow model (see [3]). This condition can be relaxed a bit, as the “coin experiment” below shows. As we mentioned before, after primordia appear and others follow afterwards near them, they start being away from the active meristem and the whole structure that contains and surrounds them expands, as one can see in Figures 1 and 2. So, away from the meristem, older primordia and the diameter of the cross section of the cylindrical shoot continue to expand. However, the phyllotactic pattern near these primordia had already formed and we assume it does not change during this growth, all the way to macroscopic level. (There might be some distortions and/or a lot of tissue growth in between primordia, so that these might seem to grow apart from each other as is the case of, for example, leaves.) P2. Meristem expansion: We point out a second type of expansion that we think takes place in plants and is crucial for the appearance of Fibonacci numbers (and the few other cases, such as Lucas numbers 3, 4, 7, 11, . . . , bijugate, etc.). When the seed germinates it starts with few primordia—perhaps one or two—and as new primordia appear, the meristem expands in relation to primordia size. We emphasize that this meristem expansion is a different phenomenon from the expansion mentioned in the previous paragraph which the whole structure further away from the active meristem undergoes. It would be interesting to study in real plants how exactly this expansion occurs and at what stage or stages of meristem development it does. 175 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis Figure 3: Cutting a cone and unrolling it unto a flat plane gives us a “wedge” shape. Figure 4: Rising phyllotaxis. Two coins in the lower part represent the same single primordium. Some of the coins on the left boundary have a corresponding one on the right, representing the same primordium. 2. The Coin Experiment We present here a coin experiment modeling plant pattern formation (phyllotaxis) that physically realizes the two postulates, i.e., as the plant grows, primordia appear during meristem expansion, followed by, perhaps, periods of meristem’s size stabilization. Since primordia appear at the outer ring of the circular meristem, we model this expanding ring process with a conic shape, which we will deal with geometrically by cutting it along its side and unrolling it flat on a plane, thus getting a “wedge” as Figure 3 shows. We carried an experiment with coins as primordia. We roughly drew two straight lines forming a wedge on a piece of paper taped flat on a table, representing an unrolled cone. We then placed two coins on the lower part on each boundary, both representing the same single primordium because the two side boundaries of the wedge should be identified. We then started placing coins, piling them up, by putting new ones “in between” older ones, not too systematically, but usually at the lower spot possible. As we kept placing coins, we observed rising phyllotaxis with Fibonacci numbers appearing as we filled the cone. The photograph taken of the result is in Figure 4.† † I carried out this simple experiment in April 2006 and reported it with some of the results of the next sections in the Phyllotaxis session in New Orleans, at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, on Jan 5, 2007. 176 P. Atela 3. Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis The Dynamic Geometric Model 245 239 234 221 226 213 200 233 207 198 194 187 179 177 170 164 162 159 155 151 147 143 142 138 135 131 139 133 127 123 118 119 114 110 105 102 95 91 86 81 78 70 65 60 52 54 49 44 39 34 26 23 18 15 81 68 78 47 54 39 34 29 18 14 12 10 2,1 4 8 1,1 1 11 9 7 6 5 3 2 19 17 13 29 24 22 15 11 32 27 25 20 16 41 37 30 28 21 2,3 45 35 23 19 50 40 33 26 55 53 48 38 31 63 58 43 36 72 61 51 46 92 67 57 42 113 80 74 69 64 59 49 44 77 71 66 62 56 52 5,3 79 75 88 82 134 100 96 90 85 108 104 99 93 87 70 65 60 6 5 95 83 73 107 146 121 117 112 101 91 86 76 9 7 3 89 84 109 98 94 120 115 103 14 12 10 8 102 97 92 116 129 124 154 141 137 132 128 122 111 106 24 22 119 110 105 32 17 13 5,8 130 150 144 140 136 125 114 37 27 20 16 123 118 113 139 152 148 145 133 127 41 35 25 21 126 45 30 28 131 134 55 40 33 31 135 63 48 38 36 138 50 43 147 142 167 163 158 182 175 171 166 161 157 153 149 58 53 160 174 169 165 155 143 72 61 51 42 162 156 151 146 172 168 164 159 67 57 46 170 195 188 183 178 208 201 196 191 186 181 176 215 209 204 199 193 190 184 180 177 203 197 192 189 185 173 80 74 69 64 59 88 82 77 71 66 62 56 47 79 75 198 194 100 96 90 85 108 104 99 93 87 83 73 107 202 179 121 117 112 101 98 89 68 109 129 124 120 115 103 94 76 122 111 132 128 116 106 97 84 130 141 137 207 227 222 217 212 206 240 235 230 225 219 216 210 205 243 238 232 229 223 218 214 211 242 236 231 228 224 220 244 241 237 233 187 154 150 144 140 136 125 152 148 145 213 167 163 158 226 200 182 175 171 166 161 157 153 149 178 174 169 165 160 156 126 176 172 168 221 195 188 183 234 208 201 196 191 186 181 13 , 8 215 209 204 199 193 190 184 180 206 203 197 192 189 185 173 205 202 239 227 222 217 212 240 235 230 225 219 216 210 245 243 238 232 229 223 218 214 211 242 236 231 228 224 220 244 241 237 4 2 1 Figure 5: Example with rising Fibonacci phyllotaxis starting with one primordia. The angle here is arbitrarily 20◦ (the rest of the paper is always 15◦ ). On the left, the voronoi cells. We report here a systematic numerical study implementing the two postulates of the dynamic geometric model. This model consists of placing circles of the same size on a circular cone, one 177 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis by one, in an iterative process (one could relax a bit the equal size condition). Each new circle placed at the lowest possible spot (towards the vertex) (this condition can also be relaxed) without overlaps with existing ones. Thus, each new circle is tangent to two (sometimes three) previous circles. Figure 5 shows a reproduction of the coin experiment using a computer. We used here an arbitrary angle of 20◦ . Everywhere else in this paper we use 15◦ . The starting circle is placed not too far apart from itself, so that a second one can be placed tangent to it at the lowest spot. Starting with only one circle at other heights in this way resulted always in Fibonacci configurations. 38 35 32 30 21 20 16 15 13 12 11 10 8 7 5 4 1 19 18 14 3 24 23 17 2 29 26 25 9 37 34 31 28 22 1 39 36 33 27 4 meristem 41 40 2 1 6 3 1 This region would have expanded by now in a plant Figure 6: On the left, the dynamic geometric model in its initial stages. The initial configuration is that of circles 1 and 2. More circles are then placed, one at a time, in the lowest possible spot avoiding overlaps. Notice that at the edge of the meristem (at the top), the phyllotactic pattern is Fibonacci (3,5), as it is indicated using circle 40 as reference. It evolves to Figure 9a. On the right, the configuration viewed “around the stem”. In a plant the lower part, away from the meristem, would have also expanded in size, preserving the pattern, just as one sees in Figure 2. From now on, we will deal with configurations that arise starting with exactly two different circles. The initial position of these two first circles determines an outcome. An example is shown in Figure 6, where circles numbered 1 and 2 determine the configuration that arises. After a few iterations the configuration evolves in this case into rising Fibonacci phyllotaxis. In the figure on the right we see what the configuration looks like when seen wrapped around the stem. In a plant the lower part, away from the meristem, would have also expanded considerably in size, but preserving the pattern, just as one sees in Figure 2. Different initial positions result in different outcomes, i.e., sometimes Lucas numbers, bijugate configurations and even multijugate configurations (see Figure 7). We will see more about this in the next section. We emphasize that the two postulates make any of these phyllotactic patterns to progressively evolve as a “fibonacci–like” sequence, with each number being the sum of the previous two. That 178 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis 58 58 56 54 53 51 46 43 38 35 32 36 33 30 27 25 22 20 17 14 9 4 2 14 9 6 1 11 10 8 2 49 19 15 1 26 23 17 15 c 11 1 10 7 5 4 6 18 13 9 8 2 24 21 19 12 3 28 27 11 4 31 29 16 7 36 33 30 14 13 12 41 39 22 17 16 46 45 42 34 20 52 50 37 35 25 21 57 54 48 44 40 38 56 51 47 43 29 26 5 b 53 32 31 23 8 5 3 36 58 55 9 10 7 6 4 3 14 13 38 20 18 17 42 28 25 22 48 33 30 21 18 12 7 5 24 23 20 15 32 51 44 40 35 27 25 24 16 11 10 8 1 26 46 37 29 54 50 41 34 34 28 47 39 57 56 52 43 31 30 22 13 45 40 38 36 19 49 44 42 39 27 19 48 32 24 21 47 35 16 15 12 37 53 54 50 49 41 33 18 53 45 29 26 23 43 37 34 31 28 51 46 42 39 52 55 58 57 56 55 50 47 44 41 40 55 52 49 48 45 a 57 2 6 3 d Figure 7: Different initial positions result in different configurations. Circle 1 is fixed, circle 2 is varied. (a) is the Fibonacci configuration of Figure 6. (b) Lucas, with (3,4) at the top. (c) Bijugate with (4,6) at the top. (d) Multijugate (3,6). is, in each case, the phyllotactic type of the pattern follows a sequence of pairs of numbers (m, n) → (m + n, n) → (m + n, m + 2n) → . . . We will see how these transitions occur in the next section. Primordia formation with the meristem’s diameter stabilized at a certain size is modeled by extending the “top” of the cone with a cylinder. When the meristem stops expanding and primordia keep appearing, the phyllotactic type of the pattern remains constant even if the structure away from the meristem expands to macroscopic level. An example is shown in Figure 8. If, on the contrary, we continue with meristem expansion, we observe that the pattern transitions further to (8, 5), (8, 13), (21, 13), (21, 34), . . . as we add more and more circles. 4. Varying Initial Positions. Parameter Space We fix the angle of the wedge arbitrarily at 15◦ (other angles give similar results). As mentioned before, different initial positions of the first two circles result in different outcome configurations. We found mainly four types of outcomes: Fibonacci: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, . . . , Lucas: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, 29, . . . Bijugate: 2, 4, 6, 10, 16, 26, 42, . . . Multijugate (Trijugate): 3, 6, 9, 15, 24, 39, . . . The bijugate numbers are two times the Fibonacci numbers and the trijugate are three times these. We note that in very few unstable isolated boundary cases we got, for example 5, 7, 12, . . .. 179 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis meristem (5,3) (5,3) This region would have expanded by now (considerably) in a plant Figure 8: Experiment implementing the meristem expansion postulate and then, after a while, the stabilization of its size. While meristem expands, we have rising phyllotaxis as we can see in the lower part: (1, 1) → (2, 1) → (2, 3) → (5, 3). When meristem stops expanding, we can see a constant phyllotactic pattern (5,3) or (5,3,8). On the right, we chose a different way to render primordia than in Figure 6 making the bumps a little larger but still at the exact location of the circles. Again, in a plant, the region below the meristem would have grown and expanded greatly but preserving the phyllotactic pattern. Figures 9 and 10 show the four examples of Figure 7 with 312 circles. We chose these as arbitrary representatives of the four types we find. We took the radius of the circles as the unit of measure. In all four examples, circle 1 is in the same place, at a distance 24.4 from the vertex. Circle 2 is in different locations. Figure 11 shows the top layer of these four configurations after 1200 circles. Notice how the patterns evolve. Take the example in Figure 9(a). A region with two clear sets of parastichies and phyllotactic pattern (m, n) = (3, 5) has each circle being tangent to exactly two below it (e.g., circle 56 has 53 and 51). The pattern evolves with a third set of parastichies becoming more and more distinct until we reach a brief transition region, where we have a few triple tangencies (a circle tangent to three circles below it, e.g., circle 83 has 79, 75 and 78 below it) and three sets of parastichies with numbers m, n and m + n. A bit later, after the transition, the pattern becomes (m + n, n) = (8, 5). 180 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis (8,13) 300 307 287 301 294 274 240 269 256 248 226 215 207 199 174 166 169 153 156 140 132 124 143 128 106 103 58 96 61 48 45 40 32 22 17 a 14 25 20 8 4 1 23 18 15 12 9 28 21 5 2 191 203 192 181 170 160 158 150 147 137 (4,7) 108 87 83 80 76 3 88 73 69 62 55 50 51 43 37 37 27 24 45 41 33 29 49 32 30 19 Lucas 16 15 12 9 6 b 24 20 18 14 6 4 1 2 65 58 34 31 29 25 23 21 17 11 10 8 79 72 40 38 13 90 48 44 36 28 26 22 19 50 47 42 39 35 54 108 97 86 61 57 53 116 104 68 63 59 56 52 46 67 137 126 123 75 71 133 93 82 78 166 143 111 89 85 177 156 150 130 100 96 74 64 60 103 188 184 162 139 107 217 206 195 173 169 118 114 180 148 125 202 257 246 235 224 213 191 157 136 121 81 165 154 132 220 198 176 231 209 187 144 92 70 66 161 99 77 171 110 87 194 151 117 216 241 286 275 264 253 304 293 282 271 260 248 238 227 205 183 140 106 84 80 168 128 95 91 190 146 113 102 201 158 124 119 223 267 300 289 278 256 245 234 212 179 135 131 98 94 153 109 105 186 142 138 127 197 164 242 219 263 252 230 208 175 172 115 112 193 149 134 122 204 270 296 285 274 312 307 303 292 281 259 237 226 182 288 249 215 159 155 101 11 7 189 145 141 120 200 167 163 152 222 178 174 255 233 299 277 266 244 211 207 129 116 218 196 273 251 240 295 283 262 229 185 16 13 10 199 214 42 34 26 210 204 247 55 39 31 221 258 225 71 47 44 232 280 310 306 302 291 269 236 63 52 36 33 30 27 Fibonacci 38 35 84 60 49 41 92 68 57 218 287 265 243 100 76 65 62 46 43 89 73 70 105 239 298 276 254 129 121 113 97 81 78 54 51 102 86 83 126 250 228 294 272 309 305 284 261 171 163 142 134 118 110 94 91 59 56 53 115 99 67 64 131 123 107 75 72 69 119 104 79 77 136 139 253 233 184 176 154 147 197 189 167 159 151 144 127 111 88 85 74 (3,5) 109 93 90 82 133 117 157 149 141 125 101 98 66 138 122 162 155 146 130 114 112 95 152 135 120 160 210 203 181 173 165 223 216 195 186 178 170 208 200 192 183 175 168 213 205 196 188 180 172 164 148 201 193 185 177 161 145 198 190 182 206 228 220 290 268 266 245 301 279 279 258 236 297 292 271 249 241 232 225 217 209 254 246 238 229 222 214 251 242 234 227 219 211 202 194 187 179 224 247 239 231 255 262 311 308 305 284 275 267 259 297 288 280 272 264 310 302 293 285 277 268 260 252 244 237 230 221 212 (8,5) 243 235 265 257 250 273 306 298 290 282 (11,7) 311 303 295 286 278 270 263 308 299 291 283 276 312 304 296 289 281 261 309 7 3 5 Figure 9: Here and in the next figure, the same four configurations of Figure 7 but with 312 circles. In (a) circle 56 and others have only two tangent circles below it, and circle 83, which is in a transition region, has three. 181 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis (10,6) 310 299 289 294 284 274 268 258 248 262 242 222 205 195 209 179 169 159 213 203 183 173 163 153 133 123 114 104 233 187 177 167 157 98 111 74 70 59 55 45 43 39 41 37 34 32 27 24 25 18 Bijugate c 10 1 23 20 16 12 8 4 9 5 2 253 229 200 186 186 205 191 177 176 183 168 162 139 138 129 188 149 143 129 140 133 119 105 102 96 (6,3) 21 85 81 89 77 42 36 29 20 19 Multijugate (trijugate) d 6 37 33 30 25 16 15 12 46 41 28 26 24 21 18 13 7 5 2 59 52 36 31 17 11 4 1 39 34 67 57 50 88 75 63 45 42 9 8 60 48 23 19 78 113 98 84 71 66 54 29 27 22 14 56 51 35 32 69 44 40 80 122 107 91 87 73 62 58 47 38 83 76 65 53 90 147 131 115 101 94 171 156 141 125 109 104 165 150 135 118 112 97 92 72 61 43 100 79 68 49 106 86 74 55 51 110 127 121 117 144 136 130 126 120 95 82 139 134 103 99 64 11 3 108 93 15 7 123 70 67 128 145 178 173 158 153 194 187 182 167 161 154 148 142 137 116 114 111 94 146 132 124 151 169 163 157 176 203 196 192 185 179 172 166 160 155 181 175 170 189 234 218 213 206 201 195 228 222 216 210 204 198 190 184 180 164 159 199 193 212 207 242 237 231 225 219 256 251 244 240 232 227 221 215 208 202 174 152 149 217 211 197 223 254 248 271 265 259 287 280 274 303 297 289 283 268 263 257 312 306 299 293 278 272 241 236 230 307 301 288 282 250 246 239 233 226 220 214 243 235 296 267 260 255 249 291 276 270 264 258 252 245 238 224 266 261 273 285 279 310 305 298 294 286 281 26 17 13 269 209 212 275 57 48 31 28 (6,9) 83 63 38 33 30 22 14 40 35 238 247 73 54 44 264 284 308 302 295 290 120 89 69 50 46 262 300 110 79 60 280 311 304 100 95 66 56 126 106 75 155 135 277 166 145 116 85 72 52 47 122 112 81 62 58 53 49 87 152 132 91 172 292 202 192 182 162 142 101 97 68 64 138 107 78 168 148 128 188 305 228 218 208 198 178 158 118 113 93 80 154 124 84 184 164 134 204 309 254 244 234 224 214 194 174 144 103 99 90 76 65 119 109 96 82 61 115 170 130 125 190 160 140 210 240 230 220 200 180 150 146 86 71 165 105 102 92 88 77 121 185 156 216 196 245 235 225 206 175 136 131 127 108 171 141 137 117 181 161 221 201 241 295 270 260 250 311 285 276 266 256 301 291 281 271 261 251 231 211 191 151 147 237 217 197 247 227 207 257 297 287 277 267 307 303 293 283 273 263 253 243 223 193 143 (4,6) 239 219 189 259 300 290 279 269 249 229 199 286 309 306 296 275 255 236 215 292 265 246 226 302 282 272 252 232 298 288 278 312 308 304 10 6 3 Figure 10: Here and in the previous figure, the same four configurations of Figure 7 but with 312 circles. 182 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis 21 13 1196 1184 1162 a 1194 1173 1152 1131 1109 1182 1161 1140 1118 1190 1169 1148 1127 1106 1179 1158 1135 1115 1198 1188 1167 1146 1125 1154 1133 1112 1103 1176 29 1190 1179 b 1161 1150 1173 1155 1143 1132 1124 1113 1102 1184 1176 1166 1106 1117 1151 1140 1129 1111 1122 1104 1115 1184 c 1168 1142 1116 1189 1178 1163 1152 1126 1136 1198 1119 1109 1181 1171 1145 1192 1166 1155 1129 1103 1176 1140 1114 1124 1108 24 1200 d 1161 1193 1187 1173 1136 1112 1179 1163 1149 1195 1125 1101 1168 1155 1139 1115 1183 1144 1131 1107 1171 1157 1120 1109 1104 1177 1115 1124 1138 1114 1125 1114 1103 1192 1181 1118 1107 1196 1185 1167 1156 1145 1134 1125 1174 1163 1152 1142 1131 1121 1111 1160 1145 1130 1106 1121 1105 1138 1127 1120 1109 1137 1182 1167 1104 1119 1198 1134 1111 1181 1165 1150 1103 1118 1135 1110 1180 1166 1151 1126 1102 1102 1141 1117 1188 1172 1156 1132 1108 1148 1123 1164 1132 1122 1112 1158 1148 1138 1128 1118 1110 1196 1189 1175 1158 1142 1127 1101 1174 1164 1154 1144 1200 1190 1180 1170 1161 1135 1127 1117 1107 1190 1174 1159 1143 1128 1113 1113 1143 1133 1123 1153 1196 1188 1179 1169 1159 1149 1139 1197 1191 1152 1156 1195 1185 1175 1165 1131 1121 1191 1183 1147 1137 1176 1199 1173 1162 1151 1184 1169 1153 1110 1199 1170 1160 1149 1139 1128 1116 1105 1187 1177 1199 1192 1162 1147 1133 1130 1120 1123 1112 1101 1141 15 1186 1120 1113 1105 1188 1178 1168 1157 1146 1135 1197 1186 1175 1164 1153 1141 1130 1119 1167 1157 1146 1134 1104 1193 1182 1171 1159 1147 1200 1189 1193 1182 1172 1160 1150 1102 1141 1134 1126 1119 1111 10 1197 1186 1177 1137 1108 26 16 1194 1126 1194 1165 1154 1144 1133 1183 1172 1162 1117 1110 1147 1139 1132 1124 1155 11 1191 1180 1169 1158 1148 1136 1198 1187 1108 1137 1130 1123 1116 1175 1168 1160 1153 1145 1189 1181 1174 1164 1157 1149 1142 1138 1129 1121 1114 1107 1151 1143 1136 1128 1101 18 1195 1150 1144 1193 1186 1178 1170 1163 1156 1199 1191 1183 1177 1171 1166 1159 1197 1192 1185 1180 1172 1165 1122 1200 1195 1187 1106 1194 1178 1140 1116 1170 1154 1129 1185 1146 1122 1105 Figure 11: The configurations of Figures 7, 9 and 10 after 1200 circles. Only the top portion is shown. (a) Fibonacci (21,13). (b) Lucas (11,18) in transition with the third set of spirals with number 29, but circles non–tangential. (c) Bijugate in transition (10,16, 26). (d) Multijugate (15, 24). 183 P. Atela 4.1. Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis Parameter Space. The Lense–Spaces We study now systematically the set of initial positions of two circles—the “parameter space.” As we mentioned before, the position of these two initial circles 1 and 2 determines the outcome. We take the radius of the circles as the unit of measure. We ask that the centers of circles 1 and 2 be less than two diameters apart (distance = 4) on either side (recall that we are on a cone) so that circle 3 (and perhaps also circle 4) can be placed tangent to both. Fixing the “height” parameter h of circle 1, which is its distance to the cone’s vertex, we have then a two–dimensional lense–shaped cross section of parameter space as the region of possibilities where circle 2 may be placed (see Figure 12). We refer to these as “lense spaces.” 30.64 24.4 19.15 Figure 12: Parameter space. On the left, the two extremes in height h for placing circle 1, h = 30.64 and h = 19.15. The dotted regions around circle 1 denote a distance of less than 4, where circle 2 can be placed. (Some locations circle 2 overlaps with circle 1.) Thus, the intersection of the two dotted circles form a lense–shaped region where circle 2 can be placed without leaving too wide a space in either side with circle 1. On the right, h = 24.4 with the four positions of circle 2 of Figures 7, 9 and 10 (see also Figure 13). The four configurations in Figures 7, 9 and 10 have circle 1 at same location h = 24.4. So, these four configurations are represented by four corresponding points in the lense h = 24.4. These four points are the centers of circle 2 (one for for each case) and they are plotted in Figures 12 and 13. In Figure 13 we scanned this lense–space (with ∆ = .007 in both directions) and color-coded each point according to the phyllotactic type of the outcome after 300 iterations: (f) Fibonacci (the large white spaces), (l) Lucas, (b) Bijugate, and (m) Multijugate (trijugate). Figure 14 shows the results of scanning the lense spaces h = 19.16 and h = 22.16, the large white regions within the lenses correspond to Fibonacci cases. For h = 19.16 there are only Fibonacci and bijugate configurations. We scanned the lense spaces at intervals ∆h = 0.2 using ∆ = 0.007 in both directions. Figure 15 shows four other scanned lense spaces, corresponding to h = 23.6, 24.2, 24.8 and 25.4. 184 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis b f l l b 24.4 m Figure 13: Lense space with circle 1 at h = l m 24.4. Each point inside the lense represents an initial position for circle 2. (For this value of h, circle 2 does not ever overlap circle 1.) We scanned the lense space with ∆ = .007 and colored each point according to the phyllotactic type of the outcome observed. In white, and marked with (f), fibonacci configurations. (l) lucas, (b) bijugate, and (m) multijugate (in fact, trijugate). The four black points correspond to the four configurations in Figures 7, 9 and 10. b Figure 14: Two lense spaces, corresponding to h = 19.16 on the left, and h = 22.16 on the right . Circle 1 is placed on the edge of the wedge as we did in Figure 12. The dotted circles here denote regions where circle 2 would overlap with circle 1. 185 P. Atela Geometric and Dynamic Essence of Phyllotaxis 27 26 Fibonacci 27 27 27 26 26 26 25.4 Bijugate 25 Lucas 24.2 24 23.6 23 22 - 1.5 Trijugate 1.0 - 1.5 25 25 24 24 24 23 23 23 22 22 22 25 24.8 1.0 - 1.5 1.0 - 1.5 1.0 Figure 15: Four lense spaces, corresponding to h = 23.6, 24.2, 24.8 and 25.4. For these values of h, circle 2 does not overlap with circle 1 when placed within the lense. References [1] P. Atela, C. Gole, S. Hotton. A dynamical system for plant pattern formation: a rigorous analysis. J. Nonlinear Sci., 12 (2002), No. 9, 641–676. [2] S. Douady, Y. Couder. Phyllotaxis as a physical self organized growth process. Phys. Rev. Lett., (1992), No. 68, 2098–2101. [3] S. Douady, Y. Couder. Phyllotaxis as a Self Organizing Iterative Process, Parts I, II and III. J. Theor. Biol., (1996), No. 178, 255–312. [4] W. Hofmeister. Allgemeine Morphologie der Gewachse, in Handbuch der Physiologishcen Botanik. Engelmann, Leipzig, (1868), No. 1, 405–664. [5] S. Hotton, V. Johnson, J. 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