Who says dandelions are dumb?

(USDA-ARS photo)

Amidst all the human chaos, plants continue to do their thing.  They not only nurture us, but also one another.

Stefano Mancuso is a neurobiologist, not of people, but of plants.  He started up a training lab in 2005 (and yes, you read that right - a training lab).  It turns out that plants can actually be trained to respond in predictable ways. 

Although they don’t have brains, they do have memories.  Mancuso noted that the Mimosa pudica retains knowledge “for two months,” far longer than the two-day retention that most insects have.  This was gleaned from direct experimentation within his laboratory.

So how does this occur?  Mancuso describes plants as having diffused neurobiological capabilities.  They’ve developed these in response to outside threats (think vegetarians). 

Mancuso reports that you can therefore “remove 90 percent of a plant without killing it.”  But don’t just take his word for it.  Slice off the bottom of an onion, maintain it under proper conditions, and watch it grow!

Resources

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-secret-life-of-plants-how-they-memorise-communicate-problem-solve-and-socialise 

Copyright April 18, 2020 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved