A captivating journey into the inner lives of plants — from the colours they see to the schedules they keep.How does a Venus flytrap know when to snap shut? Can a fern get jet lag? Do roses remember the romance springtime?In What a Plant Know, renowned biologist Daniel Chamovitz presents a beguiling exploration of how plants experience our shared Earth — in terms of sight, smell, touch, hearing, memory, and even awareness. Combining cutting-edge research with lively storytelling, he explains the intimate details of plant behaviour, from how a willow tree knows when its neighbours have been commandeered by an army of ravenous beetles, and why an avocado ripens when you give it the company of a banana in a bag (it's the pheromones). And he settles the debate over whether the beloved basil on your kitchen windowsill cares whether you play Led Zeppelin or Bach.Whether you are a green thumb, a science buff, a vegetarian, or simply a nature lover, this rare, inside look at the life of plants will surprise and delight you.'What a Plant Knows is lively, eloquent, scientifically accurate, and easy-to-read . . . I commend this engaging text to all who wonder about life on Earth, and seek a compelling introduction to the lives of plants.' Professor Stephen D. Hopper, director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew'With deftness and clarity, Chamovitz introduces plants' equivalents of ourt senses, plus floral forms of memory and orientation. When you realise how much plants know, you may think twice before you bite them!' Hannah Holmes, author of Suburban Safari
