Phyllotaxis
the spirals are counted, not admired
Generator

A stem gathers neighbours linearly; a growing disc barely gathers them at all

On a cylinder of circumference 1 with a rise of 0.02, the nodes within distance d number 2d/0.02 once d exceeds one turn — a fitted exponent of 1.020 and 100 per unit against the 100 the geometry fixes. In the disc model an element of age k sits at radius e^(0.4k), so each doubling of the distance adds the same two or three neighbours rather than twice as many.
A stem gathers neighbours linearly; a growing disc barely gathers them at allOn a cylinder of circumference 1 with a rise of 0.02, the nodes within distance d number 2d/0.02 once d exceeds one turn — a fitted exponent of 1.020 and 100 per unit against the 100 the geometry fixes. In the disc model an element of age k sits at radius e^(0.4k), so each doubling of the distance adds the same two or three neighbours rather than twice as many.123-0.50000.50011.50distance from the node, log₁₀neighbours, log₁₀a stemslope 1a disca logarithmrise 0.05 · 4000 nodes · meristem growth 0.4slope 1.013 against slope 1

Drawn at its defaults, in how far the rule reaches. It carries a slider over rise, so the claim in its caption strip is restated at every stop rather than at one. It takes no options at all, so every essay calling it gets this exact drawing.

Called by 9 essays

the blast radius of changing it

Where the angle comes from

How far a primordium reaches

 Where the angle comes from

The exponent that barely matters

 Where the angle comes from

A window that makes a pattern

 Where the angle comes from

A neighbourhood is a hypothesis

 Where the angle comes from

The fragility belonged to the window

 What a plant might be doing

The neighbourhood was already settled

 What a plant might be doing

Four ways to count a neighbourhood

 Where the angle comes from

The disturbance that travels

 Where the angle comes from

The organ that guards the second slot

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