A number of species of plants have been discovered that produce heat when they flower, much like warm-blooded animals. Three of these species not only produce heat, but they also thermoregulate like birds and mammals. This means they are able to maintain a fairly constant temperature despite fluctuating air temperatures. Scientists are not completely sure why they produce heat and regulate their temperature, but since it is mainly the flowering parts of these plants that produce the heat, they believe it has to do with creating a warm, stable environment for pollinators, which facilitates reproduction. Another possibility is that the constant warmth may be required for proper development of its reproductive structures. Two of these plants, Skunk Cabbage and Selloum Philodendron, are in the Arum family and the other, Sacred Lotus, is a type of water lily.
The Sacred Lotus maintains its temperature near 90 degrees Fahrenheit for two to four days during its flowering period, even when air temperatures drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Its receptacle, the spongy, cone-shaped center of the flower, produces most of the heat. In the Arums, the flowering part is called a spadix and is not a true flower, but is an inflorescence or clustering of small flowers called florets. The spadix, consisting of hundreds of florets on a common stalk, is partly surrounded by a large bract, or specialized leaf, called a spathe. The Skunk Cabbage’s spadix holds its temperature between 59 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two weeks during late winter when air temperatures are below freezing, and it even reportedly melts the snow around it.
The Selloum Philodendron, a common house plant, is able to maintain a high constant temperature in the 100 to 115 degree Fahrenheit range for 18 to 24 hours during its flowering period. The flowers are actually hot to the touch. Its foot-long inflorescences contain about 3,000 florets on a stalk. The uppermost florets are fertile males while the lowermost florets are fertile females. The middle florets in between are sterile males which provide food for the pollinators and are where the main heat is produced. During cold spells down to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they were discovered to be able to maintain their temperature as much as 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the air around them. This is producing heat at a level for their weight comparable to birds and insects in flight, which are the greatest heat producers known. This energy intensive reaction is fueled by fat in a very similar way as to what occurs in the metabolism of animals. This is very unusual, as plants normally utilize carbohydrates (starches and sugars) for energy.
Worldly scientists are saying that these thermoregulating plants and their animal-like strategy of cellular mechanics is an excellent example of convergent evolution whereby two distinct organisms come to the same conclusion because of a similar need. We as Christians know better than this. “The most profound intellects of the world, when not enlightened by God’s Word, become bewildered and lost while trying to investigate the matters of science and revelation. . . . Those who view these from a merely human standpoint will most assuredly come to wrong conclusions. The thorns of error, skepticism, and infidelity are disguised by being covered with the garments of philosophy and science. Satan has devised this ingenious manner of winning souls away from the living God, away from the truth and religion. He exalts nature above nature’s Creator.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 906.
“There are wonderful truths in nature. . . . But fallen man will not understand. Sin has obscured his vision, and he cannot of himself interpret nature without placing it above God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 107. “Science is ever discovering new wonders; but she brings from her research nothing that, rightly understood, conflicts with divine revelation.” Education, 128.
David Arbour writes from his home in DeQueen, Arkansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.