It is the legion number of properties the Golden Section (as seen in the logarithmic spiral above) possesses that make it so special. This ration – approx. 1 : 1.618 xxx – is singular in that its square can be produced by simply adding 1; the reciprocal calculated by subtracting 1. It is also the most difficult to express as a fraction, as it never repeats – up to 10 million decimal places have been tried! As such, it is equated with the incomprehensibility of God – being also known as the Divine Proportion.
There is also a Golden Angle; this is that invariably formed as the offset of leaves around a vertical stem. This angle is 137.5°, and is the answer to the equation, 360 minus (360 divided by G); G being the golden ratio. It is the slowest of all fractions to converge, hence the greatest possible number of leaves can spiral round the stem before one is directly above another, allowing maximum light penetration. Such wisdom!
Leave a Reply