Yes, sort of!
Despite the fact that plants can sense their environment, they still perceive it in quite a different way than people and animals do. There are no neurons in plants, so they do not experience the world the same way we do. In some ways, plants are similar to animals in how they sense the environment through simple sensing mechanisms.
In 1901, Jagadish Chandra Bose established the fact that plants have lives. It was he who introduced the concept that plants have vital functions like animals. There are definite life cycles, reproductive systems, and they are aware of the environment around them.
Based on this fact do plants have senses? Are they able to hear sounds like we do? Are they able to respond in the same way that animals do? As we all know, plants are silent and grow very slowly. Most of the time, their movements are invisible. Is it possible for them to respond to such external stimuli? Here are some scientific answers and facts related to these questions.
What are the Conventional Senses?
The five most common senses in animals are sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Due to evolution and adaptation, these senses have developed in different forms to help us understand the environment. The senses are all linked to the CPU of the brain or Central Nervous System.
Whether advanced or primitive, these senses are linked to a Central Processing Unit to analyse stimulus data and respond appropriately. Now comes the real question. Plants do not have brains or sense organs. Could they be senseless? In that case, how can they reach the sunlight? How do their roots find out the exact water source?
There is no doubt that plants respond to external stimuli, but in a different way than animals do. By analysing the different types of senses, we can learn why plants have a nervous system different from animals.
Can Plants Taste?
The sense of taste is present in all higher animals. The tongue is used for tasting and chewing food. Is there something similar in plants? Now think of it this way. The roots of plants can grow towards water sources or move towards them. In addition, they are capable of detecting rich chemical sources and can even trace the ones that are needed.
It is up to the roots to determine what chemicals are beneficial and what threats they face. It is not possible for them to take drastic measures, but they can control their growth and make sure the best things are absorbed in the process. For the safety of the plants, this is very important.
Are Plants Capable of Hearing?
A recent study found that plants are able to feel vibrations. Insects can make sounds and they can even respond to them. Using modern instruments, plants enjoy classical music more than rock and roll, according to researchers. Since plants can process sound to some extent, do they have emotions? No, they cannot display emotions because their brains do not have the necessary capabilities. But they can feel.
Can Plants See?
Darwin, the Father of Evolution, demonstrated experimentally that plants can sense light direction. Although plants do not have any sense organs to detect light sources, they can still grow towards them and grab a higher amount of light.
The photoreceptor cells in plants assist in the process of photosynthesis by capturing light and converting it into energy. Plants have these cells in their leaves, young branches, and stems. It is possible for these cells to measure the intensity of the light that falls on them. Additionally, they are able to understand how far the light source is and where they can get the most light. Do plants have sense organs? It is different from what animals have.
Can Plants Feel Pain?
Plants do not have pain receptors like humans do. As a result, they don’t feel pain, but they can respond to stress, trauma, etc. We can prove that plants feel by picking examples of insectivorous plants. “Touch me not” plant, droops down when touched. Plants have developed this response. Do plants have feelings? No, they don’t, but they do respond to stimuli in certain ways.
Changes Around Plants: How Do They Feel?
As mentioned above, they can make certain decisions using these crude forms of senses. Their tissues release hormones that control cell growth and development. They can respond to permanent changes in the environment to adjust and survive.
Based on these examples, we can clearly conclude that plants have consciousness. While they cannot move like animals, they still display certain characteristics that indicate their awareness of their environment.
When their habitats change significantly, they adapt to them. In addition, they are capable of healing their organs when they are damaged. Plants are no less than living organisms. They respond using their senses to survive.
Also published on Medium.