Rapid plant movement encompasses movement in plant structures occurring over a very short period, usually under one second. For example, the

Venus flytrap The Venus flytrap (''Dionaea muscipula'') is a carnivorous plant native to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States in North Carolina and South Carolina. It catches its prey—chiefly insects and arachnids—with a trapping ...

closes its trap in about 100

millisecond A millisecond (from '' milli-'' and second; symbol: ms) is a unit of time in the International System of Units (SI) equal to one thousandth (0.001 or 10−3 or 1/1000) of a second and to 1000 microseconds. A unit of 10 milliseconds may be called ...

s. The traps of

Utricularia ''Utricularia'', commonly and collectively called the bladderworts, is a genus of carnivorous plants consisting of approximately 233 species (precise counts differ based on classification opinions; a 2001 publication lists 215 species).Salmon, Br ...

are much faster, closing in about 0.5 milliseconds. The dogwood bunchberry's

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

opens its

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s and fires

pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...

in less than 0.5 milliseconds. The record is currently held by the white mulberry tree, with flower movement taking 25 microseconds, as pollen is catapulted from the stamens at velocities in excess of half the

speed of sound The speed of sound is the distance travelled per unit of time by a sound wave as it propagates through an elastic medium. At , the speed of sound in air is about , or one kilometre in or one mile in . It depends strongly on temperature as w ...

—near the theoretical physical limits for movements in plants.Taylor, P.E., G. Card, J. House, M. H. Dickinson & R.C. Flagan 2006. High-speed pollen release in the white mulberry tree, ''Morus alba'' L.. ''Sexual Plant Reproduction'' 19(1): 19–24. These rapid plant movements differ from the more common, but much slower "growth-movements" of plants, called

tropism A tropism is a biological phenomenon, indicating growth or turning movement of a biological organism, usually a plant, in response to an environmental stimulus. In tropisms, this response is dependent on the direction of the stimulus (as oppose ...

s. Tropisms encompass movements that lead to physical, permanent alterations of the plant while rapid plant movements are usually reversible or occur over a shorter span of time. A variety of mechanisms are employed by plants in order to achieve these fast movements. Extremely fast movements such as the explosive spore dispersal techniques of ''Sphagnum'' mosses may involve increasing internal pressure via dehydration, causing a sudden propulsion of spores up or through the rapid opening of the "flower" opening triggered by insect pollination. Fast movement can also be demonstrated in predatory plants, where the mechanical stimulation of insect movement creates an electrical

action potential An action potential occurs when the membrane potential of a specific cell location rapidly rises and falls. This depolarization then causes adjacent locations to similarly depolarize. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, ...

and a release of elastic energy within the plant tissues. This release can be seen in the closing of a Venus flytrap, the curling of

sundew ''Drosera'', which is commonly known as the sundews, is one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. 2 volumes. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous ...

leaves, and in the trapdoor action and suction of

bladderworts ''Utricularia'', commonly and collectively called the bladderworts, is a genus of carnivorous plants consisting of approximately 233 species (precise counts differ based on classification opinions; a 2001 publication lists 215 species).Salmon, Br ...

. Slower movement, such as the folding of ''

Mimosa pudica ''Mimosa pudica'' (from la, pudica "shy, bashful or shrinking"; also called sensitive plant, sleepy plant, action plant, touch-me-not, shameplant) is a creeping annual or perennial flowering plant of the pea/legume family Fabaceae. It is often g ...

'' leaves, may depend on reversible, but drastic or uneven changes in water pressure in the plant tissues This process is controlled by the fluctuation of ions in and out of the cell, and the osmotic response of water to the ion flux. In 1880

Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended fr ...

published ''

The Power of Movement in Plants ''The Power of Movement in Plants'' is a book by Charles Darwin on phototropism and other types of movement in plants. This book continues his work in producing evidence for his theory of natural selection. As it was one of his last books, foll ...

'', his second-to-last work before his death.

Plants that capture and consume prey

(''Dionaea muscipula'') *

Waterwheel plant ''Aldrovanda vesiculosa'', commonly known as the waterwheel plant, is the sole extant species in the flowering plant genus ''Aldrovanda'' of the family Droseraceae. The plant captures small aquatic invertebrates using traps similar to those of ...

(''Aldrovanda vesiculosa'') *

Bladderwort ''Utricularia'', commonly and collectively called the bladderworts, is a genus of carnivorous plants consisting of approximately 233 species (precise counts differ based on classification opinions; a 2001 publication lists 215 species).Salmon, Br ...

(''Utricularia'') * Certain varieties of

(''Drosera'')

Plants that move leaves and leaflets

Plants that are able to rapidly move their leaves or their leaflets in response to mechanical stimulation such as touch (

thigmonasty Thigmonasty or seismonasty is the nastic movement, nastic response of a plant or fungus to touch or vibration. Conspicuous examples of thigmonasty include many species in the Fabaceae, leguminous family (biology), subfamily Mimosoideae, active carn ...

* ''

Aeschynomene ''Aeschynomene'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic ''Dalbergia'' clade of the Dalbergieae. They are known commonly as jointvetches. These legumes are most common in wa ...

'': ** Large leaf sensitive plant (''

Aeschynomene fluitans ''Aeschynomene'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and was recently assigned to the informal monophyly, monophyletic ''Dalbergia'' clade of the Dalbergieae. They are known commonly as jointvetches. These legumes are most comm ...

'') ** ''

Aeschynomene americana ''Aeschynomene americana'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae (legume) known by many common names, including shyleaf,Aeschynomene deightonii ''Aeschynomene'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic ''Dalbergia'' clade of the Dalbergieae. They are known commonly as jointvetches. These legumes are most common in warm ...

'' * Starfruit (''

Averrhoa carambola ''Averrhoa carambola'' is a species of tree in the family Oxalidaceae native to tropical Southeast Asia; it has a number of common names, including carambola, star fruit and five-corner. It is a small tree or shrub that grows tall, with rose to ...

'') * ''

Biophytum ''Biophytum'' is a genus of about 50 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Oxalidaceae. It is found in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. The annual ''Biophytum sensitivum'' is a traditional medicine in Nepal. ...

'': ** ''

Biophytum abyssinicum ''Biophytum'' is a genus of about 50 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Oxalidaceae. It is found in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. The annual ''Biophytum sensitivum'' is a traditional medicine in Nepal. ...

'' ** '' Biophytum helenae'' ** ''

Biophytum petersianum ''Biophytum'' is a genus of about 50 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Oxalidaceae. It is found in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. The annual ''Biophytum sensitivum'' is a traditional medicine in Nepal. ...

'' ** '' Biophytum reinwardtii'' ** ''

Biophytum sensitivum ''Biophytum sensitivum'', also known as little tree plant, or Mukkootti (in Malayalam) is a species of plant in the genus '' Biophytum'' of the family Oxalidaceae. It is commonly found in Kerala, wet lands of Nepal, tropical India and in other S ...

'' * ''

Chamaecrista ''Chamaecrista'' is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Members of the genus are commonly known as sensitive pea. Several species are capable of rapid plant movement. Unlike the related genera '' ...

'': ** Partridge pea (''

Chamaecrista fasciculata ''Chamaecrista fasciculata'', the partridge pea, is a species of Fabaceae, legume native to most of the eastern United States. It is an annual which grows to approximately 0.5 meters tall. It has bright yellow flowers from early summer until fi ...

'') ** Sensitive partridge pea ('' Chamaecrista nictitans'') ** '' Chamaecrista mimosoides'' L. * ''

Mimosa ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 590 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word (''mimos''), an "actor" or "mime", and the feminine suffix -''osa'', "resembl ...

'': ** Giant false sensitive plant ('' Mimosa diplotricha'') ** Catclaw brier ('' Mimosa nuttallii'') ** Giant sensitive plant (''

Mimosa pigra ''Mimosa pigra'', commonly known as the giant sensitive tree (''pigra'' = lazy, slow), is a species of plant of the genus ''Mimosa'', in the family Fabaceae. The genus ''Mimosa'' (Mimosaceae) contains 400–450 species, most of which are native ...

'') ** '' Mimosa polyantha'' ** ''

Mimosa polycarpa ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 590 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word (''mimos''), an "actor" or "mime", and the feminine suffix -''osa'', "resembl ...

var. spegazzinii'' ** Sensitive plant (''

'') ** Roemer sensitive briar ('' Mimosa roemeriana'') ** Eastern sensitive plant, sensitive briar (''

Mimosa rupertiana ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 590 species of herbs and shrubs, in the Mimosoideae, mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek language, Greek word (''mimos''), an "actor" or "mime", and the femini ...

'') ** '' Mimosa uruguensis'' * '' Neptunia'': ** Yellow neptunia (''

Neptunia lutea ''Neptunia lutea'', commonly called the yellow-puff, is an herbaceous plant in the legume family (Fabaceae). It is native to the United States, where it is primarily found in the South Central United States, South Central region, extending eastwa ...

'') ** Sensitive neptunia (''

Neptunia oleracea ''Neptunia oleracea'', commonly known in English as water mimosa or sensitive neptunia, is pantropical nitrogen-fixing perennial legume. Genus and common name come from Neptune, god of the sea, in reference to the aquatic habit of some species ...

'') ** '' Neptunia plena'' ** '' Neptunia gracili'' * '' Senna alata'' /archive.org/stream/gardensbulletins449unse/gardensbulletins449unse_djvu.txt The Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 49 (1) (1997)/ref> Plants that move their leaves or leaflets at speeds rapid enough to be perceivable with the naked eye: * Telegraph plant (''

Codariocalyx motorius ''Codariocalyx motorius'' (though often placed in ''Desmodium''), known as the telegraph plant, dancing plant, or semaphore plant, is a tropical Asian shrub in the Pea Family (Papillionaceae), one of a few plants capable of rapid movement; oth ...

'')

Plants that spread seeds or pollen by rapid movement

* Squirting cucumber (''Ecballium agreste'') * '' Cardamine hirsuta'' and other '' Cardamine spp.'' have seed pods which explode when touched. *

Impatiens ''Impatiens'' is a genus of more than 1,000 species of flowering plants, widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and the tropics. Together with the genus ''Hydrocera'' (one species), ''Impatiens'' make up the family Balsaminaceae. ...

(''Impatiens'') *

Sandbox tree ''Hura crepitans'', the sandbox tree, also known as possumwood and jabillo, is an evergreen tree of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), native to tropical regions of North and South America including the Amazon rainforest. It is also present in p ...

Triggerplant ''Stylidium'' (also known as triggerplants or trigger plants) is a genus of dicotyledonous plants that belong to the family Stylidiaceae. The genus name ''Stylidium'' is derived from the Greek ''στύλος'' or ''stylos'' (column or pillar), wh ...

(all ''Stylidium'' species) * Canadian dwarf cornel (aka dogwood bunchberry, ''Cornus canadensis'') * White mulberry (''Morus alba'') * Orchids (all genus ''

Catasetum ''Catasetum'', abbreviated as Ctsm. in horticultural trade, is a genus of showy epiphytic Orchids, family Orchidaceae, subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Cymbidieae, subtribe Catasetinae, with 166 species, many of which are highly prized in horticu ...

'') *

Dwarf mistletoe The genus ''Arceuthobium'', commonly called dwarf mistletoes, is a genus of 26 species of parasitic plants that parasitize members of Pinaceae and Cupressaceae in North America, Central America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Of the 42 species tha ...

(''Arceuthobium'') *

Witch-hazel Witch-hazels or witch hazels (''Hamamelis'') are a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae, with three species in North America ('' H. ovalis'', '' H. virginiana'', and '' H. vernalis''), and one each in Japan ('' H.&nb ...

(''Hamamelis'') * Some

Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

have beans that twist as they dry out, putting tension on the seam, which at some point will split suddenly and violently, flinging the seeds metres from the maternal plant. *

Marantaceae The Marantaceae are a family, the arrowroot family, of flowering plants consisting of 31 genera and around 530 species, defining it as one of the most species-rich families in its order.Kennedy, H. (2000). “Diversification in pollination mechan ...

* Minnieroot (''

Ruellia tuberosa ''Ruellia tuberosa'', also known as minnieroot, fever root, snapdragon root and sheep potato ( th, ต้อยติ่ง), is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae. Its native range is in Central America but presently it has ...

'') *

Peyote The peyote (; ''Lophophora williamsii'' ) is a small, spineless cactus which contains psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. ''Peyote'' is a Spanish word derived from the Nahuatl (), meaning "caterpillar cocoon", from a root , "to gl ...

(''Lophophora williamsii'')

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s move in response to touch /lophophora.blogspot.de/search/label/Thigmotropic%20stamens Lophophora blog: Thigmotropic stamens/ref>

References

{{reflist Plant physiology Plant cognition

Plants that capture and consume prey

Plants that move leaves and leaflets

Plants that spread seeds or pollen by rapid movement

See also

References