We have always believed that plants are insentient because they lack a brain or nervous system like animals. However, the plant kingdom harbors many mysteries that humanity has yet to fully explore.
Unique Plant Species
1. Mimosa
The Mimosa will fold its leaves when disturbed. (Image: Pixabay)
The Mimosa, also known as the sensitive plant (scientific name: Mimosa pudica L.), is known for its ability to “shrink” when it experiences external stimuli. According to scientists, this ability is related to the “tension effect” of its leaves. At the end of the leaf stalk, there is a thin cell tissue called the pulvinus, which is filled with water. When touched, the leaves are shocked, and water in the pulvinus cells quickly shifts to the upper sides. As a result, the lower part of the pulvinus collapses like a deflating balloon while the upper part remains taut. This causes the leaf stalk to droop and close. When one leaf closes, it sends a signal to other leaves, causing them to close in succession as well. However, just a few minutes later, the water in the pulvinus refills, and the leaves return to their original form.
Additionally, research conducted by scientists at the University of Western Australia shows that Mimosa has the ability to remember events, similar to animals.
2. Black Mangrove
The Black Mangrove (scientific name: Bruguiera sexangula) is a flowering plant in the Rhizophoraceae family. This species was first scientifically described by (Lour.) Poir. in 1816. Not only is it a woody plant, but the Black Mangrove also astonishes scientists with its ability to give birth and raise “offspring” like animals.
The Black Mangrove has the ability to give birth and raise “offspring” like animals. (Image: Pixabay).
Essentially, the Black Mangrove reproduces like other plants: it flowers, pollinates, and produces seeds. However, unlike the seeds of other plants that fall from the mother plant to the ground to absorb nutrients and root down, the seeds of the Black Mangrove germinate on the parent tree itself. Only when they grow and can survive independently do the young Black Mangroves detach from the mother tree and root into the mud to develop into seedlings. This characteristic is quite similar to the reproductive process of animals, where fertilization, pregnancy, and childbirth occur, with mothers caring for their young until they can survive independently.
3. Baobab Tree
The Baobab tree is a very unique woody plant native to Africa and Australia. Baobabs can reach heights of 5 to 30 meters and have diameters up to 50 meters. They can survive in various climatic conditions, particularly in arid and harsh environments.
The Baobab tree can store up to 120,000 liters of water in its trunk. (Image: Pixabay)
Scientists are particularly interested in the Baobab tree for its ability to store water in its swollen trunk. The water capacity inside the trunk can reach up to 120,000 liters. This ability to store so much water allows the tree to survive in extremely dry conditions specific to its environment.
Furthermore, the Baobab tree is among the oldest living species on Earth. Some trees are considered to have lived for thousands of years; however, due to their wood not producing annual growth rings, confirming this is challenging. Nowadays, with the advent of radiocarbon dating methods, it has been determined that most Baobabs are only a few hundred years old, with the oldest estimated to be around 2,000 years old.
4. Mini Pitcher Plant
Scientists have discovered that the Mini Pitcher Plant can actively move its lid to trap prey. The Mini Pitcher Plant (scientific name: Nepenthes gracilis) typically thrives in humid environments, particularly in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. The plant consists of two parts: the “pitcher,” which is elongated and contains digestive fluid to dissolve trapped insects, and the “lid” at the top, which protects the pitcher from rainwater, preventing the acid from being diluted. Prey that falls into the pitcher dissolves and provides nutrients to the plant.
The Mini Pitcher Plant can actively move its lid to trap prey. (Image: Pixabay).
Initially, scientists believed the lid only served to protect the pitcher. However, they later used high-speed cameras and laser devices to observe and discovered that the lid could also trap prey. Specifically, the lid of the pitcher plant functions like a pedal. When it rains, the lid continuously moves up and down so that raindrops strike the lid, causing insects to fall into the pitcher below.
5. Mustard Plant
The Mustard Plant is a species belonging to the Brassica and Sinapis genera, part of the Brassicaceae family. Mustard plants often produce chemicals to attract parasitic wasps to help eliminate caterpillars that intend to eat the leaves. This is because mustard plants are frequently targeted by leaf-eating caterpillars. Thus, when the leaves first appear and caterpillar eggs are laid, they immediately activate this defense mechanism.
The Mustard Plant produces chemicals to “hire” wasps to help eliminate caterpillars that eat its leaves. (Image: Pixabay).
Moreover, in 2014, British scientists identified that the white mustard plant could mitigate the destruction caused by chemical weapons. Experiments showed that mustard plants grown in soil contaminated with VX nerve agents absorbed the toxin through their roots and retained it for at least 45 days. This finding suggests the potential use of mustard plants in decontaminating soil after chemical warfare.
