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Review of Paco Calvo: “Planta Sapiens: Unmasking Plant Intelligence”
- ksaj 4y agoI remember learning that Venus Fly Traps count to 3, and have actually tried it out. There are a few hooked whiskers inside their "mouth" and if you touch them 3 times, it'll snap shut. It doesn't matter which ones you touch, or even if it's the same one. The theory is that closing and then re-opening is nutritionally expensive to the fly trap, so there is that delay mechanism to avoid shutting upon a particularly directed gust of wind, etc. I don't know if there's been an explanation for its counting ability and subsequent trigger action yet, but I find it wildly interesting. The article mentions a different surprising bit - that they can be anesthetized with ether, too.