by Renee Rotto

Created on: October 02, 2009   Last Updated: October 30, 2009

Did you know that plants have a secret language? It's true. Plants do communicate with each other. Although humans may not know the language yet, we are aware there is chatter going on in the plant world. Plants may even have a higher intelligence than what they have been accredited with.

Recently research from Vidi at the Fadboud University Nijmegen revealed that plants have their own chat system, which they use to warn each other. Researcher Josep Stuefer says, Plants are not boring and passive organisms that just stand there waiting to be cut off or eaten up. Many plants form internal communication networks and are able to exchange information efficiently. These networks have been likened to a computer networking system.

How do plants talk to each other? Many species of plants such as strawberries, clover, reed and ground elder form a set of connections to share information with each other. They do this through channels known as runners, which are horizontal stems that connect the plants on the soil surface. When a caterpillar attacks a plant, the plant warns others via an internal signal, to upgrade their chemical and mechanical resistance. The warned neighboring plants defend themselves by making their leaves bitter or hard to chew.

Maybe plants can communicate with each other on some level but does that mean they have 'intelligence'? Professor Stefano Mancuso who runs the world's only laboratory dedicated to plant intelligence says, If you define intelligence as the capacity to solve problems, plants have a lot to teach us. Not only are they 'smart' in how to grow, adapt and thrive, they do it without neuroses. Intelligence isn't only about having a brain.

Not only do plants have an armory of senses to protect them from predators, diseases and the weather, but scientist are aware of other intuitive senses. All plants react to light and track the movement of the sun. Others even 'feel' strong winds and stiffen themselves in response. Their roots can and do react to conditions such as, drought or temperature changes.

Plants even know when man-made pesticides and herbsides are protecting them. Flavonoids are phenolic compounds that have potent antioxidants within them. These compounds are produced in plants in response to plant stressors, such as insects, and competition for nutrients from other plants. When pesticides are applied the plant's need to produce phenolics is reduced and so are the antioxidants. This explains why there are

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