FACT CANNON: A regular series presenting amazing facts to impress and amuse your friends, family and colleagues. 

Romanesco Broccoli

A stunning vegetable representation of fractal mathematics, the first time you see one you won't believe it's for real.

Internet sources suggest that this mind-bending vegetable originated in the Lazio region of Italy in the 16th century. However, it's reasonable to question whether it originated somewhat earlier, and whether it may have come to preoccupy the thinking of Leonardo Bonacci as he pondered the mysteries of mathematics. Bonacci, aka Fibonacci, ‘the most talented mathematician of the middle ages’, was born in the 12th century in Pisa ,only a couple of hundred kilometres north of Lazio. He also travelled extensively, so perhaps he fell under the magical broccoli's spell, and maybe it inspired him to discover the Fibonacci series that it so proudly displays all over its enchanting florets. 

A lesser known fact greatly amplifies the air of unreality surrounding the vegetable. Convention states that a Fibonacci series can be started with either a zero and a one, or a one and one. Leonardo Bonacci may or may not have been aware that his name was an anagram of ‘Broccoli and a one’, which suggests a completely different start to the series! Unfortunately, he is unlikely to have spoken English, so the anagram would probably have been lost on him!

How to serve

Although not common, many greengrocers stock these remarkable veggies from time to time, so if you don’t believe the photos, search one out and stare deeply into its mesmerizing florets. Hard to believe it’s real, but it is; and if you’re wondering how to serve it Fibonacci would probably suggest it as an accompaniment to a mean steak, particularly served median rare, or perhaps a la mode!

Mmmm! Maths tastes real good – just like normal broccoli only a bit nuttier!

Inspiration:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesco_broccoli
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci

More FACT CANNON:
https://steemit.com/science/@matrioshka/fact-cannon-2-how-frankenstein-was-born-in-the-fiery-heart-of-a-super-volcano

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