Entry # 8 - Plant Warfare

Plants may seems like the most inactive things on earth but that is a complete lie. Its ommon knowledge that they can make their own food and from one of my previous posts, you now know they can "breathe". So what more can plants do? Well they don't secretly have eyes to see, hidden ears to listen, or undetecable mouths to speak... but they do have a communication network and it isn't wifi.

Truth of the matter is that plants communicate with one other with scents. Is this the reason why some plants smell gross and other plants have pleasant aromas? Yes and no. The smells are more or less a distress call. But the smalls that I am talking about are more subtle and almost never detectable for humans. 

So how does this smell talk network work exactly. Well let me illustrate.

Lets name some plant pests.

So lets say one of these guys (more like an army) lands on your plant and starts tearing away at the leaves. The plant won't sit there quietly and take a beating from these bullies. No, it will engage in a chemical warfare, releasing chemicals into the air that carry small odors that act as an alarm of sorts. 

Two outcomes come from this message. The first one is plant fortification. The plant under siege is actually warning the other plants of its kind of the attack and giving them a chance to fend for themselves before the armies reach them. In turn, the neighboring plants react to the alarm by releasing the same chemical into the air to warn other plants that are further.

The second result of the alarm system is... 

Calling in the Cavalry.

Yes, the plant is also trying to attract more insects. Most would think that would be bad but these helpful warriors do not tolerate the plant bullies and turn the tables. Those who were once the destroyers become the destroyed. 

Not only that but plants outside of the attacked plants family will pick up on the signal and protect themselves as well, sometimes acting as strong repellants to the invadors. Thus the foreign plant who selfishly tried to protect itself essentially becomes the victim plant's savior.

So next time you go to mow the lawn and you smell that fresh cut grass smell, just remember that that's the alarm going off.