Recapitulation

This is a close up of the tip of a Strelizia regina leaf as it dies off.

When a new leaf emerges from a leaf stalk of the plant, it too has a spiral form to begin with. I find it fascinating that as the leaf dies it goes through the same spiral form.

Have I stumbled on a reverse of the recapitulation theory (Ontology recapitulates phylogeny) and is there a PhD just waiting in the wings for me?