Non-randomness on the distribution and orientation of the naturally fallen cotton tree (Bombax ceiba L.) flowers on the ground

Abstract

Observation was made and is registered for the event of the naturally fallen cotton tree (Bombax ceiba L.) flowers on the ground in terms of the orientation and distribution of their openings to the cardinal directions. The data collected from the naturally fallen flowers on the ground were then organized into four arbitrary groups according to the cardinal directions for further analysis. The results show a clear trend of the flower openings to be aligned more to the East and West directions, indicating a non-random event on the probability of distribution. To compare and verify the collected data of cotton tree flowers, a simulation experiment was then conducted using the commercially available badminton shuttlecocks to examine their fall and their subsequent distribution and orientation. With repeated simulations, even though not perfectly random (25% for each of the four directions), the data of badminton shuttlecocks are much closer to a random event. The current results indicate that the distribution and orientation of the cotton tree flowers on ground are not a random event as anticipated, which may have fundamental biological and physical reasons deserving further investigations.