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Plants in Motion: Plants Choreographed by Environmental Forces
Kinetic plants sponsored by Charles Schwab.
Sculptures aren't the only thing on the move at the Garden!Sunflowers (Helianthus sp.) follow the sun and Venus fly traps (Dionaea muscipula) snap shut at the movement of prey.
Ornamental grasses dance in the wind and moonflowers (Ipomea sp.) unfurl at night. These are examples of amazing choreography courtesy of the natural world.
Scientists call the first two responses “tropisms”. A tropism is a biological phenomenon producing growth or movement of a plant in response to an environmental stimulus. There are several different types of tropisms, controlled by natural forces such as gravity, light source or touch.
Gravitropism is often displayed by daffodil bulbs. If one is planted upside down, shoots and roots emerge, but soon change direction, and eventually come out of the ground as they should.
Heliotropism is the movement of flowers or leaves in response to the direction of the sun. Heliotropic flowers follow the sun’s motion across the sky from east to west. During the night, the flowers may assume a random orientation, while at dawn they again turn towards the east where the sun rises. For example, large, happy sunflowers (Helianthus sp.) always look toward the sun.
Climbing plants and Venus fly traps display thigmotropism, moving or growing in response to touch or contact stimuli. Vines have tendrils that coil around supporting objects, some twining clockwise, and others counterclockwise. Venus fly traps (Dionaea muscipula) are famous for their snapping “jaws” that trap prey.
Look at the Atlanta Botanical Garden with fresh eyes and find that plants are always on the move, and that the same
environmental forces choreograph both the plants and the kinetic sculpture. |
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Sculpture in Motion - Plants in Motion
