Plants communicating with animals

Matticus · Feb 2, 2009

I've always found this stuff interesting... anyone got any more?

Smart Strategies for Survival

In the book, "The Secret Life of Plants," authors Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird describe how plants "talk to" people and what plants "talk" about. Staying alive and safe tops the list.

To protect themselves, plants have developed highly adaptive and strategic ways for living. According to the authors, "Plants seem to know which ants will steal their nectar, closing when these ants are about, opening only when there is enough dew on their stems to keep the ants from climbing. The more sophisticated acacia plant actually enlists the protective services of certain ants which it rewards with nectar in return for the ants' protection against other insects and herbivorous mammals," thus serving the same function as friends and allies do in the animal and human realms. Some vegetation develop a bitter taste, some ooze gummy secretions, while others grow thorns to defend themselves.

*****les for the Pussy

Once plants feel safe, however, they may drop their need for defense. In one study, a scientist wanted to determine if cacti grow needles primarily for the purpose of keeping themselves from harm. Safely housed in a greenhouse, the scientist talked to numerous cacti assuring them that they were protected and that he cared about them. He encouraged the plants to feel even more secure by playing soothing music in the greenhouse. Within several months the cacti dropped all their spikes. The offspring of these bare cacti were born without needles. Defenseless within this nurturing environment, the mature and new-born cacti prospered. After a period of a year of being without their protective quills, the cacti suddenly began re-growing their bristles and new baby sprouts were born with needles again.

After some investigation, it was discovered that a house cat had found its way into the greenhouse. Suspecting that the cat may be the source of the perceived threat to the cacti causing the reemergence of their means of protection, the scientist blocked the cat's way of entry. Once the cacti sensed they were once again safe, all of the cacti dropped their *****ly means of defense.
Click to expand...

http://www.animalliberationfront.com/Philosophy/Morality/Biology/DoPlantsHaveSouls.htm

LegalizeTheHerb · Feb 2, 2009

Wow, that is a pretty interesting article. +rep

C12 · Feb 2, 2009

the swedes (maye norweigans?) are talking about plant rights. greeeeeeat.

does the drying and burning of one's flowers violate a plant's rights?

interesting article.

stonerish · Feb 2, 2009

i like it

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Plants communicating with animals

Matticus Blow THIS house down.

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C12 None shall pass

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Plants communicating with animals

Matticus Blow THIS house down.

LegalizeTheHerb Bronze member Gold Member

C12 None shall pass

stonerish den.nab inhibiter

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