BETA
Chapter 1
The underground fungal network
Chapter 2
Airborne chemical distress signals
Chapter 3
Whispers through roots and electricity
Chapter 4
The dark side of plant gossip
YOUR GOAL
Master of How plants talk
Ch 4 · The dark side of plant gossip
artiteacher Decode underground chemical signals to learn how trees share food and warnings.
artiteacher Plant chemical warfare
We share a network in the forest shade, But pump out poison for a silent raid.
artiteacher Some non-photosynthetic plants hack into the wood-wide web to steal carbon without giving anything back.
artiteacher The parasitic dodder vine sniffs out its hosts by tracking their airborne chemical signals.
Fun Fact
Vampire vines: The parasitic dodder vine can detect and target a preferred tomato host plant within just five days of germinating.
Glossary
allelopathy (noun)
The chemical inhibition of one plant by another through the release of germination or growth inhibitors. Black walnut trees release juglone into underground fungal networks to suppress the growth of neighboring tomato plants.
The chemical inhibition of one plant by another through the release of germination or growth inhibitors. Black walnut trees release juglone into underground fungal networks to suppress the growth of neighboring tomato plants.
Quiz
Which of these plants is a well-known victim of the black walnut's toxic juglone?
Quiz
What is the scientific term for a plant using chemicals to inhibit the growth of its neighbors?
Quiz
What is the toxic chemical released by black walnut trees to suppress competing plants?
Quiz
What term describes plants like ghost pipes that get all their food by parasitizing fungi?
Quiz
Within how many days must a germinated dodder vine find a host plant before it dies?