This plant species surprises scientists with its extraordinary ability to “dance”.
In the natural world, many strange objects and phenomena exist. For instance, in Vietnam, there is a special plant that “dances” whenever it hears music. What is this plant?
The Plant That “Dances” to Music
The plant referenced in this article is called Codariocalyx motorius (Houtt.) H. Ohashi, also known as the dancing plant or telegraph plant. In Vietnam, it is referred to as thóc lép lá quay or đậu lá quay. The dancing plant is a tropical shrub native to Asia and belongs to the Fabaceae family. It can be grown in various places as it is very easy to care for.
The plant capable of “dancing” when it hears sound is called the dancing plant. (Photo: Telegraph).
Currently, scientists are still engaged in a heated debate about whether to separate the genus Codariocalyx within the Fabaceae family from the genus Desmodium or classify them under the same genus.
This species is widely distributed across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, scientists have found this plant on the Society Islands, a remote chain of islands in the South Pacific. They typically grow wild in hilly areas.
In Vietnam, the dancing plant can be found in various provinces from the North to the Central Highlands, as well as in Ba Ria – Vung Tau and An Giang. Although this species is prevalent in Vietnam, many people have never seen it.
This special plant grows in many regions of Vietnam. (Photo: Tenor)
According to An ninh Thủ đô, the dancing plant is a standing shrub, branching out, with mature plants reaching up to 1.5 meters in height. The branches are cylindrical, and the leaves consist of 1-3 leaflets that are elongated, with the two lower leaflets being narrower and the middle leaflet being the largest, measuring 5.5-10 cm in length and 1-2.5 cm in width. The leaves are oval-shaped, with a heart-shaped or slightly round base. The upper surface of the leaves is smooth, while the underside is hairier, and the leaf tips are either blunt or pointed.
The plant produces clusters of single flowers, which are pinkish-purple in color, and its fruits have a smooth upper edge, a notched lower edge, are slightly curved, divided into 8 segments, each containing only one seed, with one side of the segment being rounded and the other straight. The plant typically flowers from August to November each year.
Close-up of the flowers of the “dancing” plant. (Photo: Telegraph)
The unique aspect of this plant is that its leaves “dance” whenever they hear music, even without wind. Additionally, the dancing plant can move if the temperature exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, even in the absence of sound.
The Mechanism Behind the “Dancing” Movement
According to Cây cảnh Hải Đăng, scientists have proposed two hypotheses to explain this plant’s extraordinary ability.
Firstly, the dancing plant moves at a speed that can be perceived by the naked eye. Scientists believe this may be a survival strategy for the plant, allowing it to maximize the amount of sunlight it receives by moving towards the sun.
The dancing plant moves at a speed that is perceivable by the naked eye. (Photo: Telegraph).
Each leaf of the dancing plant has a joint that enables it to move easily toward areas with more sunlight. However, the weight of the larger middle leaves requires a significant amount of energy to move. Therefore, to optimize movement, each large leaf has two smaller leaflets at its base. These smaller leaves move continuously in an elliptical path, sampling the intensity of sunlight and directing the larger leaf towards the area with the strongest light.
Secondly, the dancing plant exhibits unusual behavior to deter pests. Its “dancing” mimics the movements of butterflies to prevent them from laying eggs on its leaves.
A Valuable Medicinal Herb
In medicine, the dancing plant is used to treat various ailments. (Photo: Telegraph)
In traditional medicine, the dancing plant has a bitter and spicy taste. It is often used to treat rheumatism, bone pain, injuries, and fractures. In modern medicine, the dancing plant helps reduce fever, alleviate abdominal pain, treat eye problems, sore throats, joint pain, dermatitis, insomnia, and gynecological diseases. Additionally, the compounds found in the dancing plant have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The seeds of this plant are also effective in treating back pain.
