Do it yourself

though this picture of a pond-vortex is not the best example, because the the vortex is seen obliquely and in perspective from somewhere nearby, while the geometry is restricted to the architect's beloved "side elevation", namely, a view from infinity through infinitely powerful binoculars!

Thus, these views can't be expected to match very well without appropriate adaptation—but one can form the notion that such adaptation is possible (as, indeed, it is). The exercise also serves to highlight some of the technical difficulties attendant on this work.

Drag point C above and to the right of Pole B
to obtain a Vortical Path Curve form with a negative, fractional λ

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Quick Fits This is rough-and-ready. The Bud Workshop Program is much more sophisticated! Adjust the geometric bud-form by dragging white points.
A Beech in Outline, from Aberdeen, Scotland. The Beech is slightly “bent”, but the geometry applied here is not, so there is a small but unavoidable mismatch of geometry and bud. The Bud Workshop Program can deal with bent buds.	Path Curve Geometry also works to a degree for real Water Vortices, though this picture of a pond-vortex is not the best example, because the the vortex is seen obliquely and in perspective from somewhere nearby, while the geometry is restricted to the architect's beloved "side elevation", namely, a view from infinity through infinitely powerful binoculars! Thus, these views can't be expected to match very well without appropriate adaptation—but one can form the notion that such adaptation is possible (as, indeed, it is). The exercise also serves to highlight some of the technical difficulties attendant on this work. Drag point C above and to the right of Pole B to obtain a Vortical Path Curve form with a negative, fractional λ

The “trick” for all these instances (except the vortex) is to place point C on the profile at the height of the maximum width of the bud-form, but to do this after the “poles” have been placed. Place white point A on the tip of the bud-form, Then set the axis using white point E. Finally, using white point D, Set white point B on that axis at the base of the bud-form. It is generally rather more difficult to place the lower pole than to place the top pole.
See whether your λ-estimate agrees with that of Lawrence Edwards on his tracing, made more than forty years ago, of a sycamore bud. He found a λ-value of 1.74.

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Quick Fits

This is rough-and-ready. The Bud Workshop Program is much more sophisticated!

Adjust the geometric bud-form by dragging white points.