Pattern in Nature is a photograph by Bruce Bley which was uploaded on January 23rd, 2014.
Pattern in Nature
This macro photograph of the head of a sunflower was taken on a morning walk through my community this past fall. I enjoy taking macro photographs... more
by Bruce Bley
Title
Pattern in Nature
Artist
Bruce Bley
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This macro photograph of the head of a sunflower was taken on a morning walk through my community this past fall. I enjoy taking macro photographs illustrating the detail of the subject. In this photograph you see the patterns created by the seeds and the glistening of dew in the morning walk.. The seeds of the sunflower will be used for feeding birds in the area and for growing new sunflowers next summer. I hope you have enjoyed this photograph and will share it with others. You can see more of my work on my homepage in the various galleries I have created. Thank you for visiting and please come back.
The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence (flowering head), and its name is derived from the flower's shape and image, which is often used to depict the sun. The plant has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves, and circular flower heads. The heads consist of many individual flowers which mature into seeds, often in the hundreds, on a receptacle base. From the Americas, sunflower seeds were brought to Europe in the 16th century, where, along with sunflower oil, they became a widespread cooking ingredient. Leaves of the sunflower can be used as cattle feed, while the stems contain a fiber which may be used in paper production.
What is usually called the "flower" on a mature sunflower is actually a "flower head" (also known as a "composite flower") of numerous florets (small flowers) crowded together. The outer petal-bearing florets (ray florets) are sterile and can be yellow, red, orange, or other colors. The florets inside the circular head are called disc florets, which mature into seeds
The flower petals within the sunflower's cluster are always in a spiral pattern. Generally, each floret is oriented toward the next by approximately the golden angle, 137.5, producing a pattern of interconnecting spirals, where the number of left spirals and the number of right spirals are successive Fibonacci numbers. Typically, there are 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other; on a very large sunflower there could be 89 in one direction and 144 in the other. This pattern produces the most efficient packing of seeds within the flower head.
Sunflowers commonly grow to heights between 1.5 and 3.5 m (5-12 ft.). The tallest sunflower confirmed by Guinness World Records is 8.0 m (2009, Germany). In 16th-century Europe the record was already 7.3 m (24 ft., Spain). Most cultivars are variants of H. annuus, but four other species (all perennials) are also domesticated. This includes H. tuberosus, the Jerusalem Artichoke, which produces edible tubers.
Uploaded
January 23rd, 2014
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Comments (24)
Donna Kennedy
Wonderful color and clarity Bruce!...tweet/vote
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you for the kind words, Donna. I truly appreciate it and thank you for the vote and tweet.
Karol Livote
Wonderful macro Bruce, F/L twt
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you for the kind comment, Karol. I truly appreciate it and thank you for the L and twt
Bruce Bley
Jim, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "Nature Photos". I sincerely appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Shawn. Thank you for the feature in the group "Seasons of Beauty". I really appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Neal, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "Macro Photography Group". I truly appreciate it and thank you for your continued support of my work.
Bruce Bley
Bob, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "Midwest". I sincerely appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Teresa, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "In Gods Eyes". I truly appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Karen, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "ART BY GOD 1 per day". I am very grateful for the honor.
Bruce Bley
Robert, Thank you for the feature in the group "Nature Photography 1 Per Day". I am very grateful for the honor.
Bruce Bley
Thank you again Nadine and Bob, for the feature in the group "Artists News" I am very grateful for the honor.
Bruce Bley
jrr, Thank you for the feature in the group " VAN GOGH", I am very grateful for the honor.
Elizabeth Briggs
Oh my goodness Bruce. You know how much I love sunflowers. This piece is Special! L/F
Bruce Bley replied:
I am so glad you enjoyed this photograph, Elizabeth. I appreciate the nice comment and L.