Chapter 1
The plant world's cleverest tricksters
Chapter 2
Giants, stinkers, and survivors of the extremes
Chapter 3
Plants that move, groove, and explode
Ch 3 · Plants that move, groove, and explode
schopenhauer Exploding and Dancing Plants
Boom goes the sandbox tree, shooting seeds at a hundred and fifty miles an hour!
schopenhauer The sandbox tree produces explosive fruit that hurls seeds at highway speeds to colonize new ground.
Fun Fact
Sandbox tree poison: The sandbox tree is covered in toxic spikes, and its sap was historically used to poison hunting darts.
schopenhauer The telegraph plant constantly rotates its smaller leaves to locate the best angle for catching sunlight.
Glossary
rapid plant movement (noun)
A plant behavior that occurs within a short time frame perceivable to the naked eye. This mechanism allows the South American sensitive plant to fold its leaves within seconds of being touched.
A plant behavior that occurs within a short time frame perceivable to the naked eye. This mechanism allows the South American sensitive plant to fold its leaves within seconds of being touched.
Quiz
Why does the telegraph plant (*Codariocalyx motorius*) constantly rotate its smaller leaflets?
BETA
schopenhauer Match each bizarre plant reaction to its trigger to discover how these oddities survive.
schopenhauer The tropical Asian telegraph plant, Codariocalyx motorius, has self-moving leaflets.
Quiz
What is the scientific term for plant movement in response to touch, such as in *Mimosa pudica*?
Quiz
What physical change inside plant cells drives the rapid movement of the telegraph plant?
schopenhauer The walking palm tree Socratea exorrhiza of Central American rainforests.
Quiz
How does the walking palm (*Socratea exorrhiza*) theoretically shift its position over time?
Quiz
At what maximum speed can the seeds of a sandbox tree be launched when the pod explodes?
Quiz
What nickname is given to the sandbox tree (*Hura crepitans*) due to its explosive seed pods?
Quiz
What trigger causes the leaves of the sensitive plant (*Mimosa pudica*) to fold inward rapidly?