The Secret Social Life of Plants

Plants use scents to signal danger and communicate with each other. When injured, they release chemicals that warn nearby plants of threats, prompting defensive actions like toxin production. Some plants can even summon animals for protection. Underground, plants share information through fungi networks. They can also use knowledge of their neighbors for parasitic or mimicry purposes, showcasing complex social interactions.

What do plants release when they are injured, and how do nearby plants respond?

• Oxygen; they become more resilient

• Carbon dioxide; they wilt

• Pungent chemicals; they interpret it as a threat

• Water vapor; they grow faster

How do some plants like corn and cotton defend themselves against caterpillars?

• By changing their color

• By growing thicker leaves

• By attracting parasitic wasps

• By releasing toxins into the soil

What role do beneficial fungi play in plant communication?

• They help plants absorb sunlight

• They assist in water and nutrient absorption and sharing

• They protect plants from wind damage

• They increase the plant's height

How do parasitic daughter vines locate their preferred hosts?

• By observing other plants

• By sniffing out chemical signals

• By following sunlight

• By detecting soil moisture

What is one way a vine can use its host plant?

• For producing seeds

• For storing water

• For support and camouflage

• For photosynthesis