And they react to the buzzing of pollinators by sweetening their nectar.
Symbiosis. Living organizisms. Some assembly required.
From Ed Yong at the Atlantic: "Those hokey claims “have never been substantiated by rigorous experiments,” says Richard Karban from the University of California at Davis, and they tainted the entire field of study, making scientists skeptical about the very notion of plants exchanging signals.
But after many careful studies, it’s clear that plants can send airborne, chemical messages, warning faraway relatives about marauding plant-eaters, and that animals can eavesdrop on these communiqués. Plants can also influence one another through the network of fungi that connects their roots—a so-called wood-wide web. And they can respond to vibrations moving through their tissues: Many release pollen only when insects land on them and buzz at the right frequency, while others create defensive chemicals when they sense the rumbles of chewing insects."
The mythical Dr. Dolittle talked to the animals. Up next: Dr. Botanical VS the Vegan Horde.
