Phyllotaxis Board

Introducing an elegant yet surprisingly hefty piece inspired by floral forms, Fibonacci spirals, and Parastichy numbers. We'll go into the math and botany below, but first picture a crusty boule served on it or a summer bouquet in the center, surrounded by lemon, salt, and olive oil. Made from solid cherry with inlaid walnut, this nearly 2" thick, 13.5-inch diameter board is finished with 100% natural, food-safe oils. Handmade in the Hudson Valley with local materials and love.

The pattern inlaid into the surface of the board is inspired by the the leaf growth patterns of plants like certain succulents, sunflowers and artichokes. These arrangements are called phyllotaxis and they have surprising connections to some beautiful mathematics. When each leaf is at 90°, 180°, or another round number, the patterns are regular and predictable. But when the angle between successive leaves is something un-round, the emergent pattern produces elegant spirals in multiple directions. 

The angle used here is the golden angle, ~137.5°, which itself has deep connections with both π and the golden ratio. And if you count the spirals going clockwise and counter clockwise, you'll get 8 and 13. No coincidence that those are the sixth and seventh fibonacci numbers. 

It's incredible how the simple rules in the DNA of plants can generate such rich patterns and that we can use math to understand what's happening and, sometimes, why. The angle 137.5° generates leaves that more spaced out than any other angle. Plants love this because the leaves aren't blocking the ones below them and the plant gets more light. Nature figured out this fact and the plants evolved to take advantage of it.  Trippy!