Plant Moves

Plants and animals differ in many ways. One of the most important differences between plants and animals is that animals can move. They can roam from place to place to find better environments, run from predators, chase after prey, or scratch an itch.

Plants, however, are rooted to one place. They can’t move . . . or can they? You might be surprised to learn that plants are able to move in response to certain stimuli. A stimulus is a change, within an organism or in its environment, that produces a response in the organism.

Plants can’t “get up and go” like animals can, of course. However, plants produce hormones, substances that control chemical reactions within the plant. Some plant hormones control reactions that can make parts of the plant move in response to light, water, extreme temperatures, gravity, and touch.

Movements by plants in response to stimuli are called tropisms. You’ll learn more about these “plant moves” and the hormones that control them in this learning activity.