What a Plant Knows
An enchanting look at the lives of plants, from the colours they see to the schedules they keep, in time for the start of the planting season
'An intriguing look at a plant's consciousness.' Scientific American
In What a Plant Knows, renowned biologist Daniel Chamovitz presents a beguiling exploration of how plants experience our shared Earth – in terms of sight, smell, touch, hearing, memory, and even awareness. Combining cutting-edge research with lively storytelling, he explains the intimate details of plant behaviour, from how a willow tree knows when its neighbours have been commandeered by an army of ravenous beetles to why an avocado ripens when you give it the company of a banana in a bag (it’s the pheromones).
Combining cutting-edge research with lively storytelling, biologist Daniel Chamovitz explores how plants experience our shared Earth – through sight, smell, touch, hearing, memory, and even awareness. Whether you are a green thumb, a science buff, a vegetarian, or simply a nature lover, this rare inside look at the life of plants will surprise and delight.
Discover:
- How does a Venus flytrap know when to snap shut?
- Can an orchid get jet lag?
- Does a tomato plant feel pain when you pluck a fruit from its vines?
- And does your favourite fern care whether you play Bach or the Beatles?
Daniel Chamovitz is Director of the Manna Center for Plant Biosciences at Tel Aviv University in Israel. His career has been marked by groundbreaking discoveries in the biology of plants, with his research published in the leading journals. This is his first book.