Plants don’t often change quickly. They usually grow slowly over weeks, months, or years. But one fernlike plant can change its shape in a matter of seconds. Its leaves fold up when you touch them!
People know this grower by many names. Some include the sensitive plant, the touch-me-not, and the zombie plant! That last name came from how the plant’s leaves can “play dead.” Then they open back up! Scientists think the move may help the plant hide from hungry animals. The movement could also stop bugs from landing on the plant.
Scientists believe that the plant changes its cells in order 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 senses touch, it releases the water pressure in its cells. That causes the leaves to fold up. Neat!
Zombie plants return to their shape after a while. It may take under a minute, or it could take more than 10 minutes. A team of scientists discovered that sensitive plants can learn when to open back up! It’s all about how often the plant gets a stimulus. In the study, the more often the plants’ youngest leaves got touched without getting damaged, the faster they would reopen. The leaves “learned” that there was no threat, so they opened faster to take in sunlight again!
The plants originally came from South and Central America. Now, you can find them in many other places. They grow well in tropical areas with lots of light. Gardeners in cooler areas can grow the plants in greenhouses!
This is the final article in the “Plants A to Z” series. Try getting some hands-on experience with plants! Ask an adult to help you find a plant to care for. You can put a potted plant near a window. Make sure to water it. Keep growing your knowledge!
Updated July 20, 2020, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Ryan Cramer
