Re: Plants The sixth sense

From: StellrJ at aol.com on 2002.02.01 at 03:56:18(8113) In a message dated Thu, 31 Jan 2002 12:18:35 PM Eastern Standard Time, "brian williams" writes: > Well, I have been around plants my whole life and have been paying a lot > of attention to how they grow. I am sure some of you have theories on this > sixth sense they seem to have. "Sixth" sense? So what are a plant's other 5 senses? > The plant monstera deliciosa I have planted in a large pot with a totem. > Well, I decided to fertilize the two plants beside it for no real reason > some slow release fertilize. after about 3 to 4 weeks monstera had shoot two > roots in to both pots directly on to the fertilize. Now how the heck did it > know it was there? > Probably chemical particles in the air. Plant roots are designed to seek out nutrient particles in the soil, so detecting similar particles in the air is but a small step. > I have noticed root go all across the floor to get to water as well as roots > reaching out to grab wall that are a foot away. The seem no to be growing > blindly as some would think. Any one know where there eyes are? > Chloroplasts. How else would plants "know" which way to turn toward the sun? Seeking darkness is common in the seedling stages of many climbing aroids. > Not to mention orchids and other plants impersonating other creatures in > order to have them pollinate there flowers. A lot say evolution with the > plant and insects that's hard for me to buy. Any ways how did the plant find > out what the insect looked like and its colors? It didn't have to, any more than a lichen-mimic moth needs to know it looks like lichen. In the case of the moth, start with a population of variously-colored moths who instinctively rest on lichen-covered tree trunks; then, those who happen to look most like lichens would be the survivors. In the case of the plant, the same general principle operates. > Jason Hernandez +More Naturalist-at-Large

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