• Question: can plants have a mind of thier own

    Asked by opolotjwh to Sarah on 19 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Sarah Cook

      Sarah Cook answered on 19 Jun 2011:

      Plants have the ability to be sensitive to a number of factors mainly light and hence grow towards a light source. They also have a circadian clock whereby they know its light for example 12 hrs per day and so they open there leaves to collect light to maximise photosynthesis and then when it goes dark for 12hrs they curl their leaves up to reduce transpiration (loss of water).
      I guess this makes them pretty clever and well adapted however I dont think they have a mind of their own as such.

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