Spiral abstract illustration. Fractal generated roseate spirals. Some mathematical rule-patterns can mimic patterns in nature including the mathematics of symmetry, spirals, waves, meanders, dendritic patterns and fractals. Fractals are mathematical patterns that are scale invariant. This means that the shape of the pattern does not depend on how closely you look at it. Self-similarity is found in fractals. Some fractals repeat their shape regardless of what magnification you view at. While self-similar patterns can appear indefinitely complex, the rules needed to describe or produce their formation can be simple (e.g. Lindenmayer systems describing tree shapes)