The notion of a simple equation that you can use to generate a wide variety of geometric shapes is an immensely appealing one. Johan Gielis of Antwerp, Belgium, proposes one such formula in the March American Journal of Botany.
“Many geometrical forms, both in nature and culture, can be interpreted as modified circles,” Gielis states. These shapes, he contends, are useful for modeling natural structures and providing insight into why certain forms grow as they do.