How Life is Lived-4,
' Do Plants " feel " ? '
DORIS L. MACKINNON , D.Sc. (Professor of Zoology, King's College, University of London)
This afternoon Professor Doris Mac kinnon is to talk about ' sensitive' plants and tendrils. All shoots are sensitive to the light they must have, and grow towards it. All roots are sensitive to the earth and water they must have, and grow towards them. In this way plants feel. The blind, living seed in the ground follows the only course by which it can survive. Put it in upside down-it makes no difference. The shoot will bend round and grow upward ; the root will bend round and grow down.
There are other plants that are sensitive to touch. Touch a stinging nettle and you'll know it. Touch a white petal of a gardenia and it turns brown.
Touch the leaflets of the wood sorrel and they will gradually fold down against the leaf stalk. Professor Mackinnon will give you many other examples of how plants feel.