Maths · The golden angle
Why do sunflower seeds grow in perfect spirals?
What you’ll see
A sunflower adds its seeds one at a time, each turned a fixed angle from the last. Turn a neat fraction of a circle and the seeds stack into spokes, with gaps between them. Turn the golden angle, about one hundred and thirty seven and a half degrees, and no seed ever lines up. They pack perfectly, in spirals of thirty four and fifty five.







