Plants A-Z: Zombie Plant

Finish our plants series with a grower with quick moves!

See how the plant folds its leaves?

See how the plant folds its leaves?

Plants may grow over years. One changes its shape in seconds. Its leaves fold up when you touch them!

People call this grower many names. Those include the sensitive plant and the zombie plant! The plant’s leaves can “play dead.” Then they open back up! That may help the plant hide from hungry animals. It’s also harder for bugs to land on the plant.

Scientists think the plant changes its cells to move. Cells are small building blocks. They make up all living things. The water inside the cells affects the plant’s shape. When the plant feels touch, it releases the water pressure in its cells. That causes the leaves to fold up. Neat!

Zombie plants return to their original shape. It may take a minute. It could take 10 minutes. Scientists wanted to find out more about that. It seems that sensitive plants learn when to open up! It’s all about the stimulus. The more often the plants’ youngest leaves get touched without getting damaged, the faster they reopen. The leaves “learn” that there is no threat, so they open faster to take in sunlight again!

The plants came from South and Central America. Now they are all over the world. They grow well in tropical areas. Gardeners grow the plants in greenhouses too.

This is the last story in the plants series. Try getting some hands-on experience! Ask an adult to help you care for a plant. Try putting one near a window. Make sure to water it. Keep growing your knowledge!

Updated July 20, 2020, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Ryan Cramer

Photo credits: Cover: Pixabay Article: Shutterstock Creative / AjayTvm Slides 1, 2, 3: Wikimedia Commons Slide 4: The Botanical Registry, 1825 Rare Book Collection, Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University, Washington, D.C. Video: Creative Com

Discovery

See how the plant folds its leaves?

See how the plant folds its leaves?

Plants A-Z: Zombie Plant

Finish our plants series with a grower with quick moves!

Plants may grow over years. One changes its shape in seconds. Its leaves fold up when you touch them!

People call this grower many names. Those include the sensitive plant and the zombie plant! The plant’s leaves can “play dead.” Then they open back up! That may help the plant hide from hungry animals. It’s also harder for bugs to land on the plant.

Scientists think the plant changes its cells to move. Cells are small building blocks. They make up all living things. The water inside the cells affects the plant’s shape. When the plant feels touch, it releases the water pressure in its cells. That causes the leaves to fold up. Neat!

Zombie plants return to their shape. It may take a minute. It could take 10 minutes. Scientists wanted to find out more about that. It seems that sensitive plants learn when to open up! It’s all about the stimulus. The more often the plants’ youngest leaves get touched without getting damaged, the faster they reopen. The leaves “learn” that there is no threat, so they open faster to take in sunlight again!

The plants came from South and Central America. Now they are all over the world. They grow well in tropical areas. Gardeners grow the plants in greenhouses too.

This is the last story in the plants series. Try getting some hands-on experience! Ask an adult to help you care for a plant. Try putting one near a window. Make sure to water it. Keep growing your knowledge!

Updated July 20, 2020, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Ryan Cramer

Discovery

See how the plant folds its leaves?

See how the plant folds its leaves?

Plants may grow over years. One changes its shape in seconds. Its leaves fold up when you touch them!

People call this grower many names. Those include the sensitive plant and the zombie plant! The plant’s leaves can “play dead.” Then they open back up! That may help the plant hide from hungry animals. It’s also harder for bugs to land on the plant.

Scientists think the plant changes its cells to move. Cells are small building blocks. They make up all living things. The water inside the cells affects the plant’s shape. When the plant feels touch, it releases the water pressure in its cells. That causes the leaves to fold up. Neat!

Zombie plants return to their shape. It may take a minute. It could take 10 minutes. Scientists wanted to find out more about that. It seems that sensitive plants learn when to open up! It’s all about the stimulus. The more often the plants’ youngest leaves get touched without getting damaged, the faster they reopen. The leaves “learn” that there is no threat, so they open faster to take in sunlight again!

The plants came from South and Central America. Now they are all over the world. They grow well in tropical areas. Gardeners grow the plants in greenhouses too.

This is the last story in the plants series. Try getting some hands-on experience! Ask an adult to help you care for a plant. Try putting one near a window. Make sure to water it. Keep growing your knowledge!

Updated July 20, 2020, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Ryan Cramer

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See how the plant folds its leaves?

Discovery

Plants A-Z: Zombie Plant

Finish our plants series with a grower with quick moves!

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July 21, 2020