Like man and animals, it seems, plants too have ‘family values.’ Though it is surprising an information, scientists have revealed that plant, despite lacking cognition and memory, can perform complex social interactions! – i.e. they have an ability to intelligently distinguish family from strangers to help cooperate and share resources.
Susan Dudley of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada said,
Plants have this kind of hidden but complicated social life.
It is for the first time, plants are demonstrated to recognize their kin, researchers claim.
An amazing, but interesting feature has been observed in the growth activities of ‘sea rocket’ — a North American species. Its roots are found to grow more vigorously when planted in pots with strangers, compared to when they are raised with relatives from the same maternal family, the study claims.
There are much more surprising in their activities to reveal their socializing skills. The kin selection is also applied to competition. It is because, if family members compete less with each other, overall, the group does better.
Dudley said,
Everywhere you look, plants are growing right up next to other plants. Usually it’s a case of each plant for itself.
But sometimes those plants are related, and there are benefits to not wasting resources on being competitive. And there is not really a cost to not being competitive as long as your neighbor is also not being competitive.
So, its not just you, plants too can recognize and communicate with their relatives, as we humans – the manifestations are styles only seem to vary.
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