Patterns and designs in nature - Flowers

This is the second part of a series where I take you on a visual journey to discover the intricate patterns and designs of our surroundings.

If you would like to read the first part of this series, click on the link to the Patterns of leaves.

Today's theme: FLOWERS

If you feel a bit strange looking at these flowers from up close and are not quite sure why - not to worry it's totally normal, you're just staring at its sex organs 😊

Plants which have flowers are known as Angiosperms, or flowering plants. Pistils and stamens comprise the sex organs of the flower; the PISTIL being the female part that produces the eggs, and the STAMEN the male part that produces the pollen.

Observe the patterns on this Cornflower.

Do you notice the repetition in the petals? The black stamen forming circular patterns? The pistil in the center and the slight variations/gradations in color?

_{Magnolia Susan}

Iris flowers come in a variety of different patterns and colors: yellow, purple, white, black, red, green, brown... The top 3 petals, called the "standards" are often one color, while the bottom 3 (called the "falls") another.

Within every cultural tradition, designs and patterns are often conveyed in variations of lines, colors, shapes, subject matter and purpose.

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Floral patterns have been replicated in art for thousands of years.

If you walk in the streets of a European city for example, you will find them in paintings, mosaics, columns, wallpapers...

If you were to count them throughout the day, you'd be amazed at the amount of flower patterns you would see around you, casually strolling around town.

Much like leaves, petals will often appear to grow in spirals.

Why? 2 main reasons:

So that new leaves don't block the sun from older leaves, and/or so that the maximum amount of rain or dew gets directed down to the roots.

As we have seen in Part 1 of this series, Fibonacci Numbers are very common in plants.
Remember 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55 ... etc? These numbers occur in an wide number of places.

Below, notice the Geranium Sanguineum has 5 petals? And the shape of the Daisy's pollen... a perfect Fibonacci swirl. Seeds are produced at the center, and then migrate towards the outside to fill all the space.
Please note that this phenomena does not automatically concern all plants - nature has many different methods of survival, and follows its own set of rules....

...but if you were to go outside right now and look for a flower, you'd be more than likely surprised to find one of the "magic" number. Do it, I dare you!

Famous examples include:

lily = 3 petals
buttercups = 5 petals
chicory = 21
daisy = 34
... and so on

_{The stamen of the Agapanthus}

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Above is a yellow Rosa Banksiae, also known as Lady Banks' Rose. Its petals are so tightly packed together, I suppose it is protecting its pistils from the early morning chill until the warm sun appears, along with the bees.

This close-up of a Pansy Flowers to the right shows an intriguing pattern. Why the blue stripes? Do they serve a purpose?

The next photo may provide an explanation for this.

_{A bumblebee having a pollen party on a thistle}

Insects perceive flower patterns only from short distances when they are about to land or are searching for pollen. From further away, flowers display larger-sized patterns using chromatic and achromatic cues within the visual scene that will guide the insect's flight.

This may explain the Pansy's need to create a stronger visual pattern of lines and color within all its whiteness... a sort of helicopter landing pad if you will, with the blue lines pointing to where the insect should land (?)

_{Tulip pistil}

The petals of a flower are generally known to look somewhat well-organised.
Where are the patterns in this tulip you may ask? No idea! Apart from its color and faded out pinkish-white feature, I have rarely seen petals as erratic as these ones. Looks like it's at the end of its life cycle.

Oh and don't worry about the 2 hairs you see on your screen to the right... it's just a funny little bug playing hide-and-seek, trying to crash my photo party.

_{White Lilac or White Syringa}

An orchid and its latest inhabitant. I've come to check up on this little guy over the span of a few days and it seems he has rented the place out. Not a bad choice if you ask me. That devil or tiger head design is bound to scare a few curious predators.

Who has not stood in amazement at some of the creative designs the world's most famous orchids have to offer. A real feast for the eyes! Click here to see more of their intriguing designs like the "Flying Duck" or the "White Egret" orchids.