Trees also behave like people

Scientists discovered that plants also have a variety of human-like behaviors. New Scientist magazine statistics that, some plants can choose mates to avoid "inbreeding" mating, others know to help when attacked and can even pretend to be sick to avoid detection. Look at the enemy.

Picky partner

Many plants avoid pollen from other species by forming special relationships with particular pollinators, such as birds, ants and insects. However, tobacco plants (belonging to the Solanaceae family) are even more "picky". The system that identifies the incompatibility of this plant allows them to reject the pollen of close relatives due to "inbreeding" mating that will lead to the emergence of weak lineages. than. Until now, scientists still do not know exactly how this mechanism works.

Girl's trap

To increase pollination, flies (Ophrys insectifera) used tips to lure male flies into mating with it. In addition to posing like an insect, orchids also emit a scent similar to the sex hormones of female flies. When a male fly trapped, trying to mate with flowers, it accidentally pollinated the orchid.

Pretend "home has owners"

Passion fruit tree (Passiflora) uses trick tricks to prevent butterflies Heliconius lays eggs on its leaves. This action stems from the fact that the eggs of Heliconius butterflies that hatch into worms can devastate or even kill passion fruit trees. The delicate defense mechanism of this plant includes the production of appendages called attached leaves, which look like mature butterfly eggs. This trick is effective because in order to give your child the best chance of survival, butterflies tend to avoid laying their eggs on a leaf that has appeared other eggs.

Weakness

Elephant ears (Caladium steudneriifolium) easily become destructive targets of moth larvae. Once hatched, caterpillars will erode the leaves in their own way. To prevent this, elephant ears can pretend to be weak, represented by white spots on its leaves (right image), similar to the caterpillar bite (left photo). Due to the habit of only enjoying healthy plants, the moths will lay eggs elsewhere.

Bashful

The virgin tree (Phaseolus lunatus) always avoids any physical interaction from the outside. Just a light touch makes the fern-like leaves of this plant immediately shrink to each other, causing the entire petiole to collapse. This touch-sensitive movement is said to be a defense mechanism. The leaves will gradually return to normal after about half an hour, when the risk is over.

Bridge

Lima Beanstalk (Phaseolus lunatus) deals with attacks by calling their guards. When attacked by the ticks of the Tetranychidae family, this plant will react by producing a chemical mixture to attract the prey to the prey to the number of uninvited mites.

Neighbors warning

When the leaves of the sage worm (Artemisia tridentata) are pruned and destroyed by insects, they will secrete a dangerous warning chemical for neighbors. Nearby tobacco plants will receive warning and coping signals by releasing their own chemicals to prevent insects from attacking.