Plant Consciousness

So, I know what you are thinking. Plants do not have a brain so they can’t be conscious.

Where does Consciousness live? In the brain or in a collective Consciousness in the greater universe that we tap into. Do we simply act as antennas allowing us to come up with ingenious ideas, or allow some people to communicate with our deceased loved ones?

Is the brain really central to our consciousness or does it just allow us to process our feelings and sensations and allow us to actually move around from one place to another. Chickens can run around for some time with no head attached at all, is it dead? It is alive? Is it conscious?

When we think of plants we don’t think of them talking or communicating to each other. We see them pretty much in the same place just silently sitting there, unassuming.

However, if we take a closer look, what we find might surprise you.

First let’s take a look at what Wikipedia says about the human/mammal’s nervous system and how animals body’s interpret when we see, smell and feel.

“The central nervous system functions to send signals from one cell to others, or from one part of the body to others and to receive feedback”1

Second, if we look at the definition of communicate as per Google: “The imparting or exchange of information or news” 2

Now keeping those definitions in mind lets look at a simple Tomato plant.

We must look at the plant from its point of view. They have no mouths for talking to each other (well in most cases, some might argue the existence of mouths with the various carnivorous plants). They spend there whole lives in one spot. Some might crawl along the ground or up a surrounding plant as they grow but the for the most part most plants are stuck in pretty much the same spot.

As plants are always being attacked from fungi, bacteria, insects, as well as small and large herbivores for their nutrients they will need to develop a few defense mechanisms to defend themselves. Without a verbal communication ability, they will need to rely on alternative means.

As the plants can’t simply get up and walk away from hungry insects or herbivores looking for a tasty treat. When an insect attacks the tomato plant, it will create a chemical to combat the insect. It will actually poison the caterpillar or what ever insect is eating it. The tomato will create a pesticide called acyl sugar. This will also float through the air and attract wasps which will help to attack the caterpillar.

So not only will the tomato plant communicate with other creatures but they will also communicate with other surrounding tomato plants. When it sends these chemicals out into the air it also warns its fellow tomato plants to also start creating this chemical even if they themselves are not under attack as a precautionary measure as there are caterpillars in the area.

The plant sends signals from one cell to another within its own structure to produce the pesticide and air born signal. Adjacent plants received the feedback from the first plant under attack and they interpret the signal and exchange information.

There is even evidence showing that plants can recognize their own relatives. When sharing a pot with a stranger they are more likely to be competitive and over take each other than share the pot like they would with a sibling or relative. Even if the plants are the same species but not related, they will extend their roots to grab valuable resources. According to McMaster University in Canada3

The plants have and outer skin that reacts to environment and their surrounds as well. They respond to changes in light, will close up during the rain. Some will close to the slightest touch. Wind can change the shape of plants. As they grow they find there way around building and rocks by feel as they grow. Their skin if often covered by a waxy film that is an added layer of protection and guards against water loss.

When do plants die? When you pick them? When they deplete all available moisture. The Rose of Jericho also

known as the “Dinosaur plant” is known for surviving extreme dehydration for years.

Can the plants still feel while we eat them?

Should we start plant activist groups and campaign to stop the needless slaughter of plants in front of farmers markets?

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_system

2 https://www.google.ca/search?q=define+communication&rlz=1C1CHBD_enCA773CA773&oq=define+communication&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3502j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

3 https://www.nature.com/news/2007/070613/full/news070611-4.html

#plants #consciousness #roseofjericho