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The Inquiry: Have We Underestimated Plants?

Have we Underestimated Plants?

28/11/2015 GMT

Have We Underestimated Plants?

BBC World Service - The Inquiry, Have We Underestimated Plants?

An exploration of what plants are capable of and what we can learn from them.

Plants are far more sophisticated than we think. They can respond to more than a dozen different stimuli, communicate with each other and even make complex ‘decisions.’

New research suggests plants might be capable of more than many of us might expect. Some – controversially – even describe plants as “intelligent”, or even “sentient”. So, this week, we’re asking: have we underestimated plants? Our expert witnesses include an academic studying how networks of trees communicate through what she describes as a “wood wide web”, and the pioneer who is using plants to develop robotics. (Photo: US-Fall-Shenandoah, Credit: Getty Images)

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