What a Plant Knows
 | |
| Author | Daniel Chamovitz |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science book, Popular science |
| Publisher | Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux (U.S.) |
Publication date | May 22, 2012 (U.S.) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 177 (Paperback edition: April 30, 2013); 201(Revised edition: Nov 21, 2017); |
What a Plant Knows is a popular science book by Daniel Chamovitz, originally published in 2012, discussing the sensory system of plants.[1] The book explores how plants perceive their environment through senses analogous to human sight, smell, touch, hearing, and memory. The book has been translated into over 20 languages and has influenced discussions in plant biology, philosophy, and ethics. A revised edition was published in 2017.[2]
Judiciously manipulating similes with dashes of anthropomorphism, Chamovitz introduces each of the vital human senses (all except taste) and explains its meaning for humans as contrasted with its function in plants. There are no noses or eyes as such in the plant world, but there are organs and responses that mimic our physiology. Much like how humans smell food, plants too have chemical receptors that bind to very specific gaseous chemical compounds. The author recounts how willows, attacked by caterpillars, send airborne pheromones to neighboring willows. Warned by these gaseous signals (or “smells”) of a nearby infestation, the neighbors begin manufacturing increased levels of toxic chemicals to render their leaves unpalatable to the caterpillars.[3]
Synopsis
[edit]The book is structured around the concept of plant senses, with each chapter dedicated to a specific sense:
Sight: Explores how plants detect light and its direction, enabling them to orient themselves for optimal photosynthesis.
Smell: Discusses how plants emit and detect volatile compounds, facilitating communication and defense mechanisms.
Taste: Discusses how plants secrete and detect soluble compounds, enabling communication between plants and regulation of plant nutrition.
Touch: Examines plants' responses to mechanical stimuli, such as the rapid closure of the Venus flytrap upon contact.
Hearing: Investigates the controversial idea that plants may respond to sound vibrations, although this area remains under scientific scrutiny.
Balance: Shows how plants perceive proprioception and coordinate movements.
Memory: Considers how plants can "remember" past exposures to stimuli, affecting future responses.
Chamovitz emphasizes that while plants do not possess consciousness, their sensory capabilities are complex and vital for survival.
Release details / Editions / Publication
[edit]Hardcover edition, 2012[4]
Paperback version, 2013[5]
Revised edition, 2017[6]
What a Plant Knows has been translated and published in a number of languages.[7] Since it's original publication, what a plant knows has been sighted in over 500 academic journals influencing the discourse not only in plant biology, but in diverse Fields such as ethics, philosophy, and human biology.[8]
| Language | Publisher | Publication year | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English (USA) | Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux | 2012 | 2nd edition 2017 |
| English (UK) | One World | 2012 | 2nd edition 2017 |
| English (Australia) | Scribe | 2012 | 2nd edition 2017 |
| Japanese | Kawade Shobo Shinsha | 2012 | |
| Chinese (simplified) | Beijing Mediatime Books | 2012 | 2nd edition, 2018 |
| Hebrew | Matar | 2013 | 2nd edition, 2023 |
| Chinese (complex) | Rye Field | 2012 | |
| German Was Pflanzen wissen: wie sie sehen, riechen und sich erinnern | Hanser | 2012 | 2nd edition, 2017 |
| Korean | Darun | 2013 | 2nd edition 2019 |
| Croatian | Planetopija | 2013 | |
| Estonian Mida Taim Teab | Aripaev | 2012 | |
| Polish Zmysłowe życie roślin: podreczny atlas zmysłów | WAB | 2013 | |
| Italian Quel che una pianta sa: guida ai sensi nel mondo vegetale | Cortina | 2013 | |
| French La Plante et ses sens | Buchet Chastel | 2013 | 2nd edition 2018 |
| Russian | Centrepolygraph | 2017 | |
| Serbian | Center for the Promotion of Science | 2017 | |
| Slovanian | ARA Zalozba | 2018 | |
| Czech | Academia | 2020 | |
| Turkish | Metis | 2018 | |
| Hungarian | Park Konyvkiado Kft | 2018 | |
| Spanish | Ariel | 2019 | |
| Thai | Bookscape Publishing House | 2024 |
References
[edit]- ^ Chamovitz, Daniel (30 April 2013). What a Plant Knows: A Field Guide to the Senses. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374533885.
- ^ Chamovitz, Daniel (2017). What a plant knows : a field guide to the senses (First revised paperback ed.). Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374537128.
- ^ Graham Jr., Frank (24 July 2012). "Review: What a Plant Knows". Audubon Magazine, July–August 2012.
- ^ Chamovitz, Daniel (2012). What a plant knows : a field guide to the senses (1st Hardcover ed.). Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374288730.
- ^ Chamovitz, Daniel (2012). What a plant knows : a field guide to the senses (1st Paperback ed.). Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374533885.
- ^ Chamovitz, Daniel (2017). What a plant knows : a field guide to the senses (First revised paperback ed.). Scientific American / Farrar, Straus, Giroux. ISBN 9780374537128.
- ^ "What A Plant Knows". www.whataplantknows.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ "What a plant knows: A field guide to the senses: Updated and expanded edition". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- Book Review: What a Plant Knows. The Wall Street Journal.
- "What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz – review". The Guardian.
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