What a Plant Knows

Plants may seem like they don't have the same capacity for thought and intelligence as animals, but recent studies suggest otherwise. Plants have various senses, including sight, smell, touch, and taste, which they use to perceive the world around them. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what plants know and how they use this knowledge to survive and thrive in their environment.

Sight

Despite not having eyes, plants are capable of perceiving light and using it to their advantage. Through a process known as photosynthesis, plants use the energy from sunlight to create food. They also use light to direct their growth towards the sun, an essential process known as phototropism. In addition, they can differentiate between different wavelengths of light and adjust their growth accordingly. For instance, blue light tends to promote growth while red light encourages flowering.

Smell

Plants release chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which serve as signals to other plants and animals. They use these compounds to communicate with each other, to attract pollinators, and to repel herbivores. For instance, when a plant is under attack by pests, it releases a VOC that attracts predatory insects to fend off the attackers. Moreover, some plants can detect