1. Beauty, Form and Function: An Exploration of Symmetry
Asset No. 4
PART I
Concepts in Symmetry
Lecture I-3
Symmetry in Botany

2. Objectives By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
observe the use of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements in landscape design
understand how cacti modify their symmetry to adapt to hot and dry climates
see that the diverse form or orchids always display the same underlying symmetry

3. Symmetry in Gardens and Flowers
symmetrical
landscape
asymmetrical
orchid
cactus
mixed symmetry

4. Summary Mirror symmetry is often seen in botanical specimens.
Cacti are unusual in showing mixed symmetry – 4 mirror lines or 5 mirror lines - in a single plant.
There are 20,000 – 30,000 orchid species but they all share the feature a single mirror line (bilateral symmetry).