That argument is too hand wavy to be convincing. Can you make it precise? How exactly are the seeds or branches being distributed in 2d&#x2F;3d space, and how does that minimize shading? Why would sunflower seeds want to minimize shading in the first place?<p>There&#x27;s also the trouble that sunflower seeds and branches of trees <i>do not</i> actually approximate phi in any meaningful way. Check out this picture: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.wingsdailynews.com&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2015&#x2F;04&#x2F;fibonacci-sunflower.jpg" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.wingsdailynews.com&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2015&#x2F;04&#x2F;fib...</a> No doubt it was cherry picked and the spiral placed in the best position, yet the match is abysmal (look at how far the center of the spiral is from the center of the flower). The seeds are just packed tightly together and this produces some patterns due to the seeds on the outside being more developed than those on the inside.