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Personality of plants

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PLANT INTELLIGENCE<br />

stock, inbreeding either between flowers <strong>of</strong> the<br />

same plant or even between the organs <strong>of</strong> a<br />

single bi-sexual flower is <strong>of</strong>ten practiced. In<br />

the love-making <strong>of</strong> the Grass <strong>of</strong> Parnassus and<br />

the Love in the Mist (Nigella), we have a<br />

very pretty and intelligent act. The flowers are<br />

unisexual and, as the females usually grow on<br />

much longer stalks than the males, the latter<br />

would not have much chance <strong>of</strong> showering<br />

their pollen on their consorts, if it were not for<br />

the fact that, at the proper season, without outside<br />

stimulation, the "tall females bend down<br />

to their dwarf husbands. " This surely is as in-<br />

telligent and conscious as the mating <strong>of</strong><br />

animals.<br />

The carnivorous <strong>plants</strong> act with uncanny<br />

wisdom. The insect-devouring Sundews pay no<br />

attention to pebbles, bits <strong>of</strong> metal, or other for-<br />

eign substances placed on their leaves, but are<br />

quick enough to sense the nourishment to be<br />

derived from a piece <strong>of</strong> meat. Laboratory spe-<br />

cimens have been observed to actually reach out<br />

toward Flies pinned on cards near them. So<br />

highstrung are these sensitive organisms that<br />

[i93]

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