A Plant That Can Smell

BlueCup writes "The question of how a dodder finds a host plant has puzzled researchers. Many thought it simply grew in a random direction, with discovery of a plant to attack being a chance encounter. But the researchers led by Consuelo M. De Moraes found that if they placed tomato plants near a germinating dodder, the parasite headed for the tomato 80 percent of the time. And when they put scent chemicals from a tomato on rubber, 73 percent of the dodder seedlings headed that way. Turns out, it sniffs out it's prey."

attack of the killer...

[User 956]

But the researchers led by Consuelo M. De Moraes found that if they placed tomato plants near a germinating dodder, the parasite headed for the tomato 80 percent of the time. And when they put scent chemicals from a tomato on rubber, 73 percent of the dodder seedlings headed that way. Turns out, it sniffs out it's prey.

See, now I would have thought that it would have been the tomatoes that made the first strike...

Hmm... sounds dubious....

[Rooked_One]

its more likely the plants are using the force... i'm not kidding man!!! Have you seen the size of the midichlorians on tomatoes??? I'd want to get close to them too!

re:FIRST

[Anonymous Coward]

YOUFAILIT!

ObJoke

[ozmanjusri]

My dodder has no nose.
How does it smell?
Terrible!

Re:Another name

[ozmanjusri]

Well Mark, you of all people should know that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

FSM lives!

[Tablizer]

The Flying Speghetti Monster [wikipedia.org] is seeking out holy tomato sauce! I believe I belieeeeeve!
       

Re:While My Guitar Gently Weeps

[Tablizer]

Um, wouldn't this be "while my guitar gently creeps"?

Re:attack of the killer...

[Tablizer]

See, now I would have thought that it would have been the tomatoes that made the first strike...

In sovi.......never mind.
     

rubber

[Anonymous Coward]

And when they put scent chemicals from a tomato on rubber, 73 percent of the dodder seedlings headed that way.

Maybe the dodder seedlings just needed a rubber before approaching the tomato plants?

Re:Plants that remember people

[Tablizer]

The way I heard it was: Two plants of the same species were placed in a room with the sensors...

Well, I heard it like this: A plant, a Nun, and a Rabbi walked into a bar....
     

Re:Plants that remember people

[radarsat1]

Very slowly, in most cases.

Well, of course it's slowly, it takes a very long time to say anything in Old Entish [wikipedia.org].

Re:Another name

[kestasjk]

That which we call a dodder by any other word would smell tomatoes.

Re:Grammar rock!

[geminidomino]

Right "its", wrong "prey."

Re:Great

[Jeremi]

What the hell is left to eat?

Eating is so passe. Cut out the middle man, learn to photosynthesize!

Re:Attack of the Killer Plants?

[AmberBlackCat]

I can just see that getting out of control. You'll find yourself struggling to stay awake one night. Every time you blink and open your eyes again, it seems like your potted fern is a little closer to you. You'll be fine. Just go back to sleep...

Reminds me of an old joke

[Centurix]

Person 1: My Amorphophallus titanum [wikipedia.org] has no nose!
Person 2: How does it smell?
Person 3: Fucking awful.