The Secret Life and Intelligence of Plants

[Dover]

A cuscuta moving toward a tomato plant.

June 10, 2008
Loyal to Its Roots
By CAROL KAESUK YOON

From its diminutive lavender flowers to its straggly windblown stalks, there is nothing about the beach weed known as the Great Lakes sea rocket to suggest that it might be any sort of a botanical wonder.

Yet scientists have found evidence that the sea rocket is able to do something that no other plant has ever been shown to do.

The sea rocket, researchers report, can distinguish between plants that are related to it and those that are not. And not only does this plant recognize its kin, but it also gives them preferential treatment.

If the sea rocket detects unrelated plants growing in the ground with it, the plant aggressively sprouts nutrient-grabbing roots. But if it detects family, it politely restrains itself.

The finding is a surprise, even a bit of a shock, in part because most animals have not even been shown to have the ability to recognize relatives, despite the huge advantages in doing so.

..snip..

The studies are part of an emerging picture of life among plants, one in which these organisms, long viewed as so much immobile, passive greenery, can be seen to sense all sorts of things about the plants around them and use that information to interact with them...cont'd

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/science/10plant.html?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[Raven]

1. Amazing picture! Thanks for posting this. n/t

[ThomWV]

2. My Opinion

This is strictly personal opinion; it is tempting but a mistake to see intelligent choices in what are actually chemical reactions. I suspect what is really happening is that as it matures, or late in its maturity the root systems of this plant produces and release into the soil some chemical or compound which is antagonistic to the development of its own or any other roots. I believe Walnut trees do something similar in that they kill other trees that emerge in the vicinity of their root structures, but in that case I believe they do not distinguish between another Walnut and any other tree.

This does not come from any particular knowledge, just hints of memories of things I've run across and read over the years.