Plant Intelligence: Starting from the beginning

​​By: Dan Wynn

​As someone who studied plant science at university,
I was fascinated to learn about plant intelligence. We tend to think of intelligence as something only found in organisms with brains and nervous systems, but research has shown that even plants are capable of exhibiting sophisticated behavior and information processing. Plant intelligence is a manifestation of environment and evolutionary processes that we can study and learn from.

For example, their are many plants that can learn and remember, which is surprising given that they lack a central nervous system like animals. However, studies have shown that plants can learn from past experiences and remember them for weeks or even months. For instance, the Mimosa pudica plant, also known as the sensitive plant, rapidly closes its leaves and droops its stem when its leaves are touched or disturbed. But if the plant is repeatedly touched or disturbed in the same way, it eventually stops responding, suggesting that it has learned and remembered that the stimuli are not harmful.

Plants can also communicate with each other through chemical and electrical signals. For instance, through underground fungal networks, plants can share nutrients and even send stress signals. Plants can also communicate through airborne chemicals, such as when a damaged plant emits toxins to warn neighboring plants of danger. Interestingly, some plants even produce sounds. Tomato and tobacco plants emit high-frequency sounds during droughts or when their leaves are cut, and primrose flowers produce sweeter nectar in response to the sound of bees’ wings.

Plants manifest problem-solving like behavior in response to changing environments. For instance, when a plant is shaded by a neighboring plant, it may grow taller or lean towards the light to maximize its exposure. Plants can also respond to mechanical cues, such as the touch of a nearby plant, by adjusting their growth patterns to avoid overcrowding. In some cases, plants can even anticipate changes in their environment, such as blooming at the right time to attract pollinators.

Plants have a form of memory known as "priming," where they can remember previous experiences and adjust their response accordingly. For instance, some plants can remember how many days it has been since they were last exposed to cold temperatures and only begin growing again when they deem it safe. Other plants can remember when to begin growing again in the spring, blooming only when pollinators have re-emerged from winter hibernation. Plants can also "learn" from their environment, such as adapting to changes in light conditions or temperature to optimize their growth.

Their are some many more observations of plants That suggests that plants are far more complex and sophisticated than we ever imagined. From communicating with each other through underground networks to problem-solving and adapting to their environment, plants exhibit behaviors that are much more advanced than simple reactions. As we continue to learn more about plant intelligence, it's clear that we have much to gain from studying these remarkable organisms. 

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