Virtual Cotton Phyllotaxis

Branches have been omitted from the main stem of a cotton plant so that it is easier to see the effects of changing the phyllotactic angle. Placing the movie viewer in 'loop' mode will increment the angle constantly through 360 degrees in 10 degree steps. The angle observed in real plants is close to 135 degrees, which minimises self shading. There is a small angle between one internode and the next which results in the main stem having a shallow zig-zag near 180 degrees, a cumulative bend near 0 degrees, and a shallow spiral configuration when the phyllotactic angle has other values.

Larger version incremented in 1 degree steps. (8.5mb)

Overhead view incremented in 1 degree steps. (6.5mb)

Last updated: Jim Hanan, 15 January 1997.