Talkin’ Like a Plant

Shhhh! We are trying to listen to the plants, yup that green thing outside has developed ways to communicate. In particular, they are able to tell which plants are living nearby. Many trees do not grow well around their relatives, leaving scientists confused about how plants know who their neighbors are.

Research now offers some answers, showing that young trees react to the microorganisms in the soil near their roots. The presence of these microorganisms in the ground lets the young saplings know their mature relatives are growing nearby, which decreases their chances of survival. The sagebrush is a little different; although it communicates it does so to keep its relatives close by. The sagebrush communicates by emitting chemicals into the air that land on other plants. These chemical cues help fend off insects and give this plant a better chance of survival if they are growing near other sagebrushes.

http://discovermagazine.com/2010/nov/14-the-secret-social-life-of-plants

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