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Queen Victoria's agave

Agave victoriae-reginae

Photo by arlanda
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

More mathematics

Queen Victoria's agave (Agave victoriae-reginae) is a small species of agave noted for its streaks of white on sculptured geometrical leaves, and popular as an ornamental. It is named for Queen Victoria.

This agave is highly variable in form, but in general the rosettes are small and compact, composed of short, rigid, thick leaves that are green with a pattern of distinctive white markings. The markings are generally along leaf keels or margins, giving a sort of polyhedral appearance. Marginal teeth are usually lacking, while the terminus of the leaf may include 1 to 3 spines, each 1.5–3 cm in length.

Habitat:

A. victoriae-reginae is found across the Chihuahuan Desert, with about a half-dozen subspecies named.
This one was pictured at Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid

Reference Links:

Agave victoriae-reginae

Species ID Suggestions

Agave victoriae-reginae

Reference Link
craigwilliams
1

Comments (25)
arlanda
Thanks Craiigwilliams, its a lot of information
arlanda
Thanks ChristyHolland, mathematics adds even more beauty to plants
ChristyHolland
Great photo Arlanda! I just watched the videos Craig suggested...and they were very fascinating! Intriguing!! I have a biology background, so the big picture made sense, but the details...I'd have to study forever!!! Beautiful!
craigwilliams
I suspect your other Agave is victoriae-reginae as well arlanda. I thought you might like to see this nice series of three videos about mathematics, spirals and the fibonacci series in plants. Be warned though, she talks very quickly!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahXIMUkSXX0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOIP_Z_-0Hs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14-NdQwKz9w&feature=relmfu
arlanda
Sanjay, in other words, simple is boring and complex is confusing. So symmetry eliminates part of the confusion of complexity while lack of symmetry would add some interest to simplicity. ;)
SanjaySaklani
DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY, the famous Harvard mathematician George David Birkhoff developed a mathematical formula which he believed could be used to gauge how beautiful and appealing a work of art was. Birkhoff's formula relied on two abstract concepts: complexity and order (or symmetry). According to Birkhoff, if something is complex, it will be more appealing if it is less symmetrical. Alternatively, if something is highly-symmetrical, it is better if it is less complex.
arlanda
I agree Emma, I guess you cannot get a global mission unless your local mission is successful itself. At the same time it does not sound good to me a mission called "Life and Mathematics in Spain". No system is perfect!
HemaShah
Sanjay true. That means the Genes are coded accordingly?. Again this must be thru evolution and trial and error,where the plant comes to a conclusion that it will benefit the most if it grows in a certain way/
arlanda
On the other hand, I am a crystallographer, and crystals try to occupy the space in the best way by symmetry. I guess plants also try to occupy as much space as possible with the minimum waste of energy.
HemaShah
BTW , I am just trying to abide by the rules .Till of course they figure out which mission needs to be local and which does not. Some missions could be just for fun. In the process you learn something too. My feeling is that active participation is more important than anything . Because some missions can just become stagnant after a while.
arlanda
In some way growth is related with symmetry. I mean, if a plant is growing putting new branches, for example, it is probably more economic if it do it in a symmetric way.
HemaShah
What amazes is how the plant decides to have such an arrangement. Fascinating indeed!
arlanda
Yes Emma, it is a good one, notice that the inflorescence (?) presents tetragonal (4-fold) symmetry but each individual flower has 5-fold symmetry (pentagonal). Very curious!
HemaShah
Arlanda,here is another good one. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6342446
arlanda
Emma, it is a pity you leave the mission. It will take time to Columbus to reach California. It will maybe take even longer to have a global mission about Life and Mathematics to share our pictures. I think it is somehow silly to consider mathematics as local but there is no option, only local missions are allowed. By the way, beautiful spot you show me. It combines the tetragonal symmetry of the central flower with the spirals of the leaves. It is not so simple, you know, this spirals show the typical sunflower type Fibonacci sequence with eight whorls in one direction and 13 in the other which are two consecutive members of Fibonacci sequence: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13 etc where the sum of any pair define the next number in the sequence. Like Romanesco broccoli!!
HemaShah
Arlanda, i will rejoin your mission when Columbus reaches California. In the meantime I thought I would share a spotting i saw. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7422456 The simplest math concept i see is symmetry in here,
DanielePralong
Indeed Arlanda, there is unfortunately no other option at the moment. At this stage we're just kindly asking you to keep the mission local:-)
arlanda
I know Daniele, but I have no other option, do I?
DanielePralong
Hi Arlanda! Just a reminder that all user-created missions are first local only, with a 300 miles radius as indicated on your map. Thanks!
arlanda
Right Emma, anything you consider related to Mathematics: geometry, symmetry, numerical series, etc
HemaShah
Arlanda,i am assuming that it is OK to add,geometrical shapes , colors and patterns For eg,the praying Mantis has a triangular head.
arlanda
Just added to Life and Mathematics mission

Spotted for Missions

Mission
2012 Best Wildlife Photo
Mission
Biology and Mathematics

Tags

Photographed
PublishedFebruary 22, 2012

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