Until the mid-19th century, an insurmountable barrier, on which was written on one side “organized and living bodies that spontaneously feel and move,” and on the other “organized and living bodies that do not feel and move,” inexorably divided the animal world from the plant world. Despite scientific advances, there is still a generally held notion that plants are much simpler and far inferior to animals, especially in relation life, sentience and movement.
But, in fact, plants are active and sociable beings: not only do many individuals of the same species use to live together, but also representatives of a good number of different species find living conditions appropriate to their common needs in a given locality.
These extraordinary creatures live by building their own nourishment and are able to communicate with each other and even with organisms from other kingdoms! All as a result of millions of years of evolution during which plants have learned to survive in the most varied environments, not only defending themselves against their enemies, but also establishing refined and advantageous relationships with other organisms. Some of the strategies applied for such purposes are truly unique!
As a “living thing,” every plant-whatever its form, structure and degree of evolution-nourishes, breathes and reproduces; we will try to understand how these functions take place, and through which organs.
Looking at plants from their point of view, we will investigate the operation of their most evolved behaviors, from the origins of flora on this planet to the sophisticated adaptations of our contemporary species and the latest frontier of plant research: the hypothesis of the presence of an equivalent of our nervous system!
We will revisit the human-plant relationship, a relationship that has ancient origins and includes use for food, textile or simply ornamental purposes, focusing on some of the plant species that have been the subject of scientific investigation for years for their use for therapeutic purposes.
Finally, we will try to make everyone understand how plants can balance and improve our health and the well-being that comes with it, not only helping us to fight ailments and diseases, but also gentling and enhancing our outlook on life.
It is worth getting to know them more deeply, the plants.
