Plants that Count
Wording of this Handout:
PLANTS THAT COUNT!
Below is a plant I picked from the edge of the lawn. It has three leaves, and three stalks, which come from one stalk. Each leaf is attached by tiny stalk, and each is shaped like a heart I have no idea what the plant is called, but i can see that it is very cleverly designed.
All plants everywhere are made of cells. A cell is too small to see without a microscope. Some how the plants know how many cells it needs to make a round stalk, a flat leaf, and a pattern.
Every cell in al these parts does a very important job, but the amazing thing is there are just the right number of cells to make the plant live and grow.
Where is the master plan that helps the plant make just the right number of cells to grow a leaf, or a stem? How many cells in a leaf? How many in a stalk? How does the plant know when to stop making cells? How does the plant know where to put the cells, to make the pattern?
The one little plant I picked from the edge of lawn is delicate, perfectly shaped, and precise. Its shape is designed around the number three but other plants use other numbed.How did the plant know how to count to three?
Here's something for you to do: Pick some leaves, or look at plants, and see what numbers you can find. Count the leaves, stalks, petals and see how these things are arranged - you will be amazing at how much maths those plants can do!
The God who made all plants is the Master Mathematician!