3 Sciences: Hands On, Minds On, Hearts On

The Spiral Filaree Seed[1] - A Machine[2] in Nature – Observations, Information, & Worldview

 For seeds for a classroom project, GO HERE.

Basically a weed with many small seeds; it grows in 49 states. Since it is considered invasive in nine states (see list on last page) then I believe it could develop a colony in a garden or other environment in your area and after a few years have an invasive effect. It grows well in pots. Use it for teaching about design to your children and friends because of its incredible and unique features. Let them observe it drilling into a substance (I prefer bread for its white background).

Pictures of the plant itself and its flowers may be found on the Web.

Single Filaree seed (right side above). The seed, its spiral shaft and tapered end is scientifically called a ‘carpel’. In this paper I often refer to the seed as being the entire unit, i.e., the carpel.

Take a careful look at the single seed with a magnifying lens in lots of light (sunlight is the best). Does it not appear as if it were skillfully carved out of a piece of the finest wood?

Three scientific observations : Ask how and why certain things happen in each one.

1. Large seed: place in plate of water 30-40 minutes. Observe change. Remove; let dry & observe.

2. Small seed: insert seed into a piece of white bread (white background for observation). Add drops of water 3-5 times a minute; observe seed twist and unwind. Remove and let dry. Observe results.

3. Place a small drop of water on the surface of a piece of bread. Place the seed as flat as you can with the seed tip barely inserted into wetted spot on the bread. Put water drops on the seed, its drill, and on the spiral loop. Observe. For what purpose did the creator of the seed add the spiral at the end? What would happen to the seed if there was no spiral at the end? (Takes 5-10 minutes)

How the seed plants itself: When the seeds fall to the ground, they land parallel with the surface or at a very slight angle. So how does it get into the ground? That is the function of the spiral loop. As the seed gets wet the spiral begins to unwind and as it does it raises the shaft of the seed up to an angle of around 45 degrees! While this is going on the seed is twisting itself into the ground like the thread of a screw. Although very light in weight, the seed structure is strong enough to produce sufficient torque and power to uncoil without any of its parts breaking down or separating. This drilling action of the seed is activated primarily by moisture causing it to drill itself into the ground.

    “This spiral is a marvel of engineering. Short hairs on the seed and long rigid hairs along the spiral, all backward-pointing, also play a part in this singular machinery, by braking and holding the seed and ensuring that the spiral movement again drives it deeper into the ground.”[3]

The Filaree Seed Cluster (picture at center above)

The spread-out seed cluster is resting in a plane with its extended spirals all separated evenly by 72^o angles. Note that each of the five perfect tapered spiral shafts in the cluster has a seed attached at its end. In what state were the spirals and seeds before they ended up in the cluster? They were tightly wrapped around a column (its style) and extended its length with each of the five seeds tapering into long and thin endings (see picture on the left). Talk about craftsmanship! Does not the precise mathematical arrangement of the cluster - with each seed being part of a spiral that extends outward with extremely fine tapering into a logarithmic spiral to its very end - show intricate design?

As the carpels mature, they begin to extend out away from the column, curl up into perfectly tapered spirals, and are then quickly released. The reason they are not dispersed in the cluster (in the center picture) is that they are tied and glued to the shortened column so that they will not separate. This paper infers, as its worldview, that this uniquely designed seed could only be the result of having been created by a personal, intelligent designer and could have never evolved by chance. It later presents who the Designer and Creator is and how He can be known personally.

      The Golden or Equiangular Spiral (Evidence of the Divine Proportion)

The curling tail of the Filaree Seed forms a "golden" or equiangular spiral. It is different from other spirals for its pattern allows golden triangles and golden rectangles to be plotted within its gentle curve. Logarithmic spirals can be seen in sea shells, ram horns, sunflowers, a parrot's beak, the arms of galaxies, the cochlea of the ear, whirlpools, etc. They are observed in living and non-living forms, from the smallest size to the largest. Why is this spiral found so often in nature? Could it be an example of the repetition of useful forms which one would expect to find in a world created by an intelligent personal being? Could such seeds and their spiral configuration - a display of an integrated system "made up of its component parts"[4] which functions perfectly according to its purpose and shows beauty of form, repeating itself generation after generation without changing its "kindness" - ever develop by chance, by an evolutionary process? And if it did, why would it develop into such a form and pattern like this? Also how could it utilize and maintain the energy to form all five seeds into being coiled at one end and stretched out - straight and tapered - to the other end when each seed is under strong tension to curl up into its spiral shape? The tiny tips are even inserted into a five-chambered cap to hold them in place at the tapered end! Is not intelligence required for the design and plan of the construction for this unique seed? For man to make a drill requires a designer and precision-made tools. Doesn't a seed that has a drill also require the same? Especially a drill that depends primarily upon water to plant itself? The only rational viewpoint is that the personal creator of the universe created the filaree seed as a visible fingerprint of His invisible, yet personal existence. Has it ever been observed that an impersonal being, force, or impersonal anything ever created a designed object?

Inference of this paper: that the Filaree seed shows intelligent design by observing that:

*its form, symmetry, pattern, and the orderly arrangement of its parts enable it to fulfill its purpose;

*all of the parts that are needed are present (and no part is present that does not have a purpose, even if at present its purpose is not understood), are in their correct location and position, and in proper working relationship to one another, thus forming a complete and fully functional object;

*each component is constructed and composed of the appropriate materials;

*all of these factors operate optimally within and according to the scientific laws of nature.

*the probability of its first living cells and their DNA having arisen from random chemicals that finally combined over millions of years becomes incredulous when the decay rate of such biological compounds is much greater than the random processes that form them.

*such an object (or any other complex object that shows design) will never be observed to happen by chance, random processes. Logic says it came into existence as the result of an idea first formed in the mind of an intelligent personal being (only persons have creative rational thought, will, and information) transcendent to the creation of the object. This is why you and I as personal intelligent beings can also create objects that show design.

 Significance of the Subject of Design

When we create anything we assume responsibility for it. In fact we are its owner and are accountable for its purpose, meaning, significance, value, and how it is to function. Who or what is responsible for the existence of the Filaree seed? Can something of such unique design be the product of undirected chance processes over time? Every feature of its being, its ability to reproduce itself, and fulfill its purpose in nature shows it was designed by someone external to itself. Of what significance would it have if it did not accomplish the purpose for which it was created? The filaree seed acts as it was designed to act. Do we? Do we not show that we are an object of design? Are you not much more complexly designed than the Filaree seed? Do you fulfill the function and purpose for which you were created? Does not the answer to this depend upon who created you? If you are the result of blind chance how can your life have any real significance?

The thing that would really give significance and real meaning to your life would be to find out whom was your creator. Would not a good creator want you to know where you came from, why you are here, and what is the purpose for your life? The answer to this last question is best answered in the Bible. The basic purpose and design of this book is to tell you about the infinite, personal God, yourself, and nature, and why and for what purpose you were created. Knowing what it says about these things gives real meaning to your life and the world around you.

My Belief and the Implications of the Filaree Seed and Its Cluster

I believe the person who created the filaree seed is the powerful, knowledgeable, wise, good, creative, sovereign, and infinite, personal God of creation. If you really think about it many of these attributes can be inferred from looking closely at the Filaree seed. At the least this should help you understand that this God alone exists. This observation alone will not tell you who this God is, but only that there is an infinite, personal God who exists who created the seed.I believe that the God who exists and can be known is the one revealed in the Bible. There are many scientific statements in the Bible and never has there been any observational evidence to show that they are false. The same thing can be said about historical and archeological evidences. These facts add credibility that the Bible is true when it speaks about science and history. Therefore on this basis (and only on this basis) can we say that everything else the Bible says is also true. Therefore you can know assuredly that the infinite, personal, God who created the universe is the God described in the Bible.

Conclusion. Since these evidences confirm that the Bible is true and the God it describes actually exists, is it possible to get to know Him in a personal way? Yes. The Bible describes a person who historically displayed the same attributes of God while He lived on earth. Therefore when you read about this person in the Bible and see Him perform miraculous things that only a God could do, then you know that He must be God also. He says that if you will trust what the Bible says about Him that you can have a personal relationship with Him. This person is Jesus Christ and the Bible says in Hebrews 1:3 that He is the exact image of His Father in heaven. This very statement makes Him God and this is why He could perform miracles while he lived on the earth.

Jesus Christ says that if you will believe on Him you can have everlasting life and can pass from death to life (John 3:16, 3:36, 5:24). In the next few paragraphs you will be faced with the decision that you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to receive forgiveness of your sins and be given eternal life. However unless you have had some previous background about the Bible you may find that before you can make such a big decision that the information contained in these few pages is just not enough. Therefore I highly recommend that you gather more information before you decide whether you are going to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ or not. This decision is so important that you want to make sure that you first understand what it is you should believe about Him. If you will do one or all of the following things I recommend, you can have the assurance that what you will believe in is factual and true. If reaching this decision takes you a short or long period of time (hours, days, weeks, and months or even a year or so) this is the best approach. Here are three suggestions to help you to come to a good decision as to whether you should believe on Jesus Christ or not.

1. Get a hold of a Bible (the three most accurate are the KJV, NKJV, NASB,) and read the Gospel of John. While reading it follow the flow of John’s account as he gives you 20 chapters of detailed argumentation and historic facts before he asks you to believe. He wants you to have good reasons and evidences on why you should believe. So when the apostle John says 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” do not be tempted to believe because of some tingling feeling and then trust inwardly based on such emotions so generated. John wants you to see that the gospel about Jesus Christ is a belief system that has been confirmed by many sound historical and scientific evidences that prove that it is worthy of being trusted.

2. If you find this approach insufficient and you believe you need more information before you make a decision, I highly recommend you read the book, "The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus.” Written in narrative form it will easily help you to understand what the basic message of the Bible is all about. This book is available from Goodseed Incorporated, 1-888-654-7333 (www.goodseed.com). It is also offered in DVD format. For children ages 4 - 10, the basic message of “The Stranger” is available in “The Lamb.” It is composed of many beautiful illustrations that even the very elderly enjoy. It is available in book, CD, or DVD format. 

3. If you would like to look at the many scientific, historical, archaeological, geographical, and other kinds of evidences and the arguments both for and against the Christian religion, obtain a set of CD’s on 'Christian Evidences I & II’, by Dr. David R. Reid, available from www.growingchristians.org. The content and the teaching approach about these evidences by Dr. David R. Reid anyone can understand.

http://www.growingchristians.org/ P.O. Box 5757 River Forest, IL 60305

4. Read the pamphlet “Who is the designer?” by Dr. Werner Gitt (http://www.wernergitt. de/down_eng/ENG_Designer.pdf)

 If you do one or all of these things I sincerely believe that you will understand who Jesus Christ really is and what the message of the Bible is all about. Whether you choose to believe or not is your own personal choice. However if you want to make the decision right now then agree with Jesus Christ that you are a sinner and will now believe on Him as your savior who died for your sins and arose from the dead physically so that He could give you eternal life (See John 5:24). If you are not ready to do this then please wait until you get a better understanding by following the recommendations I have given here (1-4) and reviewing what each one has to say.

Scientific creation sites:

www.answersingenesis.org

www.creationsafaris.com

http://www.icr.org/

www.creation.com

Planting Filaree seeds and their ecology.

States where reported INVASIVE: AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, TN, UT, WA (Add CO).

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/list/e.htm.  

( http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/index.html )

It is probably wise to treat this seed as invasive in any locality. Simple planting directions: Place seed on soft soil, spray with water every day or so and it should plant itself. You will normally see it rise up at an angle as it begins to penetrate into the soil.

http://library.thinkquest.org/2899/currics/fabfilintr.html

Filaree's amazing corkscrew adaptation allows filaree to plant itself in hard ground. The corkscrew structure by its proper botanical term is a "carpel". The whole, five carpeled, dry, brown, "scissor" that develops from the filaree flower is a "fruit". Species with longer styles tend to grow in moister areas, flower later, and coil slower.

http://www.hastingsreserve.org/NativeGrass/NonNative.html

The familiar corkscrews. . . twist into the soil as they go through day-night cycles of wetting and drying, and each time the spiral forces the sharp seed deeper into the soil. Eventually the seed breaks off, leaving hundreds of cork screws in any square meter. Filaree’s broad, flat leaves start life early in mid-winter, and can turn bright red in a cold spell. It rapidly dries to a rusty brown, crunchy layer of dead leaves and flowers.

Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2007, October 17].

It is currently found in all states except Florida and Louisiana. (I recently read it is now in Louisiana).Germination is triggered by seasonal rains and soil temperatures that range between approximately 69 degrees Fahrenheit (21 deg C) during the day to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 deg C) at night [23]. Light rains result in lower germination rates than heavier rains [5]. When moist, the coiled styles enveloping the seed expand, uncoil, and drive the arrow-shaped fruit into the ground [16]. Seed can be driven as deep as 1 inch (2.5 cm), although seed buried less deeply is more likely to germinate [52]. Young and others [52] report an average germination success rate of 14 percent. Plants are sexually mature 2 to 4 months following germination[19].

Soil: Cut leaf filaree grows in well-drained, clayey, loamy, or sandy soil.

Seasonal development of cut leaf filaree varies depending upon climate. Plant germinate in late fall in California, Nevada, and Arizona but do not start until midsummer of the following year in cold climates [5]. Plants in warm climates grow vigorously until winter, when growth slows. Vigorous growth resumes in the spring. In cold climates, growth is continuous from spring or summer until plant death in early fall [47].

Fred Willson 2010