CURIOSITY CORNER

Chandrayee G. Bhattacharyya
1. Mathematics isn’t boring and confusing equations 5. These broadleaved evergreen shrubs have durable,
only, maths is intricately bonded with the beauty of glossy foliage and of course bright, colourful
nature. Galileo Galilei wrote in his IL Saggiatore, “The gorgeous flowers.
universe is written in the language of mathematics,
a) Barringtonia spp
and its characters are triangles, circles, and other
geometric figures.” Which is this plant? b) Rosa spp

a) Spiral cactus c) Rubus spp

b) Aloe Polyphylla d) Camelia spp

c) Agave spiralis 6. These are edible flower buds, first documented in the
d) Heavenly Agave 16th century in Italy. Plant scientists believe that this
plant was developed through cross-breeding, and its
2. This is a kind of carnivorous plant aka insectivorous naturally occurring pattern was reinforced by human
plant. This genus has a single species, D. lusitanicum. selection over many generations.
In appearance, it is similar to the related genus
a) Romanesco broccoli
Drosera.
b) Macaranga cabbage
a) Drosophyllum
c) Pusa drumhead
b) Baristacone
d) Burnswick cabbage
c) Nepenthes

d) Brittlestar 7. This flower is a stunning example of

sacred geometry in plant forms, particularly
3. This species is an eye-catching succulent with leaves the flowers of this plant; it’s Nature’s
densely stacked and folded up at the edges, forming a Sacred Geometrical Mandalas.
usually square-shaped column.
a) Aster spp
a) Tsuga columna
b) Dahlia species
b) Crassula ‘Buddha’s Temple’
c) Tagetes spp
c) Szuka Heaven’s cone
d) Zinnia spp
d) Dzuka cacti
8. This is a perennial plant that forms attractive rosettes
4. It is a vine that is endemic to Christmas Island, an of spirally arranged, semi-succulent leaves. This
Australian territory in the north-eastern Indian Ocean, exquisite plant isn’t easy to cultivate but its unique
where it is a common epiphyte in the shrublands qualities of pattern make it well worth the struggle.
having attractive waxy foliage.
a) Viola sacculus
a) Geophila spp
b) Viola sacculus
b) Naregamia spp
c) Viola abissinica
c) Hoya aldrichii
d) Viola olivia
d) Hemis paniculata

58 | Science Reporter | October 2022

9. This famous mathematical sequence is seen all around a) Thistle
us. Let’s explore this weird spiral design; it’s in b) Goldeneye
the cross-section of a red cabbage. Make a cross
section and see, it turns out cabbage isn’t as ‘boring’ c) Sunflower

as you might have thought earlier. d) Wormwood

a) Balanitii 14. This plant is commonly known as the “Hatchet

Cactus” and it is among the most famous of all cacti
b) Hydnocarpusi
for its uniquely designed stem.
c) Fibonacci
a) Astrophytum myriostigma
d) Myristican
b) Parodia species
10. There’s very complex architectural design seen in the c) Pelecyphora aselliformis
underside of these aquatic plant leaves. Such intricate
patterns reinforce the magic of geometry in nature. d) Gymnocalycium species

a) Victoria amazonica 15. The Mammillaria Elongata ‘Cristata’ cactus is native

to _______. It’s a rare form of cactus with a unique,
b) Nymphaea spp crested shape. Its growth pattern looks like worms
or brain, which is how it got the nickname ‘Brain
c) Nelumbo grandiflora
Cactus’.
d) Euryalea spp
a) Central Bolivia
11. Flying from US across Southwest, you may find striking b) Central Peru
geometric patterns of the desert shrubs, Larrea
c) Central US
tridentate, which usually grow in mysterious circles
and continue their survival nearly 12,000 years. Some d) Central Mexico
people believe that these awesome patterns provide
16. This is a woody vine with unusual blossoms. Roman
signals to the extraterrestrials’ Catholic priests of sixteenth century named it for the
a) the Crazy bushes passion, suffering & death of Jesus Christ. They said
the circle of hairlike rays above petals is the crown of
b) the Mexican bushes thorns that Jesus wore.

c) the Costas bushes a) Royal beauty

d) the Creosote bushes b) Passion Flower

12. This is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the c) Crisscross flower

daisy family. It has ten species, which are commonly
d) Royal passion
called the coneflowers.

a) Echinacea spp
Answers
b) Tagetes spp 1.b 2.a 3.b 4.c 5.d 6.a 7.b 8.a
9.c 10.a 11.d 12.a 13.c 14.c 15.d 16.b
c) Cosmos spp

d) Calendula spp

13. Have you ever carefully observed the centre of these

majestic composite flower-heads? It’s an important Ms Chandrayee G. Bhattacharyya (Pathak), B-30, Birla
Colony, Porbandar – 360576, Gujarat.
oil-seed crop too. There is a radiant symmetry in it. Email: bhattacharyyachandrayee66@gmail.com

October 2022 | Science Reporter | 59