Nature’s Underground Networks
Did you know that plants had their own chat system?
Unbelievable but true: Recent research revealed that many herbal plants can “talk” by forming internal communication networks. Kind of like computer networks, plants such as strawberry, clover or ground elder, remain connected with each other and can share information via internal channels.
Plants chatting, what would that be good for?
Well, this communication network allows them to, for instance, warn each other of nearby enemies.
“If one of the plants is attacked by caterpillars, the other members of the network are warned via an internal signal. Once warned, the intact plants strengthen their chemical and mechanical resistance so that they are less attractive for advancing caterpillars.”
The Downside:
As it goes with computer viruses, plant viruses can abuse those connections as well and rapidly spread themselves throughout the network and result in infection of the whole lot.