From the 1960s up to today, some scientists have made astounding claims about the high level of intelligence and sensory capabilities possessed by plants. Their findings raise questions about what it means to be “sentient” and what defines “consciousness.”
Professor Stefano Mancuso at the International Laboratory for Plant Neurobiology at the University of Florence talked to the BBC this month for a special exploring the intelligence of plants. He said, “We are convinced that plants are cognitive and intelligent, so we use techniques and methods normally used to study cognitive animals.”
He experimented with two climbing bean plants. The plants were set up to compete for a pole. The loser sensed the other plant had reached the pole first and started looking for an alternative.
