ignoramus: [Latin] one who cannot or will not follow complexity
The image of a tree usually comes to mind whenever we think of a branch, yet this shape is not limited to trees or even the realm of botany where it is sometimes called a ramus. Deer antlers, lung bronchi, veins and coral are some of the many things on the planet that are found in the shape of branches.
Many examples can be found in the woods and along the seashore in Nova Scotia. Ferns, seaweed, tree limbs and roots all reveal the branch shape, which, in its simplest form, involves a division of one stem into two parts. Each part can divide itself again, becoming more and more complex with each subsequent division. Other words used to describe types of branches include sprig, spray, twig and bough. In mathematics, branches are known as approximate fractals.
The branch is one of several interesting shapes that are found repeatedly in nature. These shapes often form exquisite patterns and many are building blocks for larger things. In previous weeks I’ve written about the spiral and the meander.
In the Saturdays between now and mid-summer’s eve, I’ll explore a number of other shapes found in nature as a lead-up to a Summer Scavenger Hunt. Details of the hunt will be disclosed on June 20th, Midsummer’s Eve. There will be prizes.
Flandrum Hill 
Hey Amy,
What is that first photo and did you take it? I can see the beach stones (favorites of mine!) but it almost looks like an xray?
Whatever it is, it’s beautiful!
Cindy Lou, I took the first photo at Silver Sands beach where I also took the second. The first shows the half dried ‘roots’ of what was probably a large kelp seaweed. They’re more like a stronghold than roots and they allow the kelp to anchor itself.
I thought that by making a negative of the photo, it would draw more attention to the shape. Glad you liked it 🙂
And here I thought an ignoramus was someone who couldn’t figure out how to discard trash in the nice bin over there, or to take cans and bottles back for the deposit. I learn something every day in the blogosphere.
I am fascinated by the negative. Now, besides a better camera, I long for some new software. Is there no end to the temptations of the world?
I think we’re on the same page where ignoramuses are concerned. Putting out the garbage or recycling is an exercise in complexity here in Nova Scotia where we are on a 2 week cycle and only some bottles are recycled at the curb, while others have to go directly to a recycling depot.
As for the photo… looking at images in the negative does seem to make the everyday seem more mysterious. And no, there is no end to the temptations of the world 😉
You know, maybe we all should be reading your blog religiously and verrrrry carefully because you’re going to give us photo assignments based on shapes and we better know branching, spiraling and meandering. However, I’ve already forgotten what a ramus is, ha ha… 🙂
Kathy, don’t worry, the scavenger hunt will be very simple, so that both city and country mice such as yourself can participate.
love this series on patterns in nature.
Thanks Wind. As an art teacher, I often made use of this theme. I was inspired after watching a program on Nova that went into great detail about these patterns. Although they’re everywhere, they’re also hidden unless one is focused on looking for them.
[…] many of which are building blocks for larger things. In previous weeks I’ve written about the branch, the spiral and the […]
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