Plants form networks to communicate

Researchers at the Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands have found that certain types of plants form underground networks of runners that they use for communication with neighboring plants of the same species. From Science Daily:

Recently [Josef] Stuefer and his colleagues were the first to demonstrate that clover plants warn each other via the network links if enemies are nearby. If one of the plants is attacked by caterpillars, the other members of the network are warned via an internal signal. Once warned, the intact plants strengthen their chemical and mechanical resistance so that they are less attractive for advancing caterpillars.

Link (Via ComDig)

[#1 posted by Dave X , October 5, 2007 9:22 AM]

Makes you wonder about these quaking aspen groves...

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0601.htm#oldest

[#2 posted by ecobore , October 5, 2007 9:34 AM]

Crikey, next thing they'll be pulling up their roots and it's "Day of the Triffids" all over again!

[#3 posted by Anonymous , October 5, 2007 10:16 AM]

Now Petans will have nothing to eat.

[#4 posted by Anonymous , October 5, 2007 11:17 AM]

Gawd if they ever prove that plants are cognitive
and can feel pain, my diet is totally screwed! LOL!

[#5 posted by Anonymous , October 5, 2007 12:38 PM]

this same exact research was covered by the old Whole Earth Review (Magazine) back...maybe 15 years ago -- but the research was with trees in the Black Forrest in Germany -- interestingly, the caterpillar example was used in the older study as well...with one attacked tree producing some bitter repellent and other trees, some very far away, instantly producing the same chemical so that they were prepared to avoid an attack from pests.

[#6 posted by Anonymous , October 5, 2007 9:48 PM]

Meanwhile, what do us "evolved" humans use our networks for? Exchanging porn/mp3s, trolling and spamming.

I suppose the porn could be considered something akin to pollen, though.