A growth-controlled model of the shape of a sunflower head

Abstract

A mathematical model is presented which predicts the shape of a sunflower receptacle (or the compact receptacle of various other taxa) and the pattern of its floral parts (florets) from the time of their initiation to maturity. The model assumes that the expansion and curving of the receptacle surface is just sufficient to accommodate the development of the florets, thus minimizing the quantity of plant tissue involved. The model assumes a fixed angular separation (divergence) between successive florets, an S-shaped (sigmoidal) growth function followed by each florets, and a fixed time delay (period) between the initiation of successive florets. It is further assumes that the shape and relative position occupied by the florets on the receptacle surface are invariant in time. By this theory, the shape of the receptacle surface is fully determined once the mathematical form of the growth function is specified. Using the logistic growth function, the theory is tested against the measured shapes of plant receptacles from different taxa at various points in their development. The least-squares adjusted fits to the theory are, in most cases, very good indeed.