A growing body of research has indicated that plants interact with their environment and with each other in far more sophisticated ways than a lot of botanists originally believed. Plants have a phytonervous system (action potentials along phloem), can communicate with each other, and can even learn (habitualization).
It seems that these three components are enough to allow a population of closely related plants, especially a colony of plants, to engage in consensus making. Is there any research being done on the topic? If not, I'd love to get involved in starting such research.
Plant communicate to each other by means of volatile signals (jasmonate and salicylates for example) to signal them about the presence of insect parasites or animals devouring their foliage (Acacia vs Giraffe). The plant receiving the signal reacts by synthesising appropriate secondary metabolite for their protection. They also emit signals to attract parasitoïds who take care of the insect enemies of the plant. They are also able to communicate underground by means of mycorrhizae.
Have a look at the work of Baldwin I.T. on RG
Thanks for the comment, Jean-Pierre Jost. I mentioned something along those lines in the initial discussion. The question however is whether or not plants engage in consensus making. That is to say if they make group decisions in a social way.
It's one thing to simply react to a signal. It's another to take information that all members of the group have, and through "dialog" reach a decision.
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