i like plants. i don't know if you've heard of it, but a few years ago, more evidence was uncovered suggesting that plants, or at least certain types of them, can possibly "see" using some sort of plant-specific ocelli (eyes, basically. very simple eyes).
this was done by studying how boquila trifoliolata (a type of vine that grows in parts of argentina and chile) mimics other plants through mimetic polymorphism; essentially, it can change its own leaves to resemble those of whatever plant it's growing on. however, it's different from other plants with this quality in that it's not limited to mimicking only one type of plant (a single b. trifoliolata vine can mimic several surrounding plants' leaves, regardless of whether it's actually touching them), nor is it parasitic to the host plant. it was previously thought that this mimicry could either be due to horizontal gene transfer, or that organic compounds emitted from the host plants caused the change in b. trifoliolata's own leaves.
however, recently, it was discovered through experimentation that b. trifoliolata would mimic artificial house plants as well. thus the suggestion that the plant could in some way "see" what it was trying to mimic. it's not a new theory, it was first brought up over a century ago, but there wasn't as great of an opportunity to test it before this plant. but there's still no definitive answer as to what specific mechanism is used in the mimicry. it also opens the door to other suggestions of things like plants having similar structures to human/animal neurons and stuff like that but it's not a super common theory, i don't think? i just think it's cool. plants are a lot more complex than you might think.
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Re: OT Thread
(Anonymous) 2023-07-21 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)i like plants. i don't know if you've heard of it, but a few years ago, more evidence was uncovered suggesting that plants, or at least certain types of them, can possibly "see" using some sort of plant-specific ocelli (eyes, basically. very simple eyes).
this was done by studying how boquila trifoliolata (a type of vine that grows in parts of argentina and chile) mimics other plants through mimetic polymorphism; essentially, it can change its own leaves to resemble those of whatever plant it's growing on. however, it's different from other plants with this quality in that it's not limited to mimicking only one type of plant (a single b. trifoliolata vine can mimic several surrounding plants' leaves, regardless of whether it's actually touching them), nor is it parasitic to the host plant. it was previously thought that this mimicry could either be due to horizontal gene transfer, or that organic compounds emitted from the host plants caused the change in b. trifoliolata's own leaves.
however, recently, it was discovered through experimentation that b. trifoliolata would mimic artificial house plants as well. thus the suggestion that the plant could in some way "see" what it was trying to mimic. it's not a new theory, it was first brought up over a century ago, but there wasn't as great of an opportunity to test it before this plant. but there's still no definitive answer as to what specific mechanism is used in the mimicry. it also opens the door to other suggestions of things like plants having similar structures to human/animal neurons and stuff like that but it's not a super common theory, i don't think? i just think it's cool. plants are a lot more complex than you might think.
Re: OT Thread
(Anonymous) 2023-07-22 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)I knew of mimetic polymorphism but not that this specimen could copy FAKE plants. that's absolutely insane. I gotta read more about that