Can Trees Talk? What Would They Say?

The answer is - Yes. They can. The phenomenon that trees can talk was first discovered by Ed Wagner in 1982. Further research was done on it by Rhoades in 1985. Many scientists have since studied this phenomenon and though the mystery has not been completely solved, several amazing facts have come to light.

W- Waves are believed to be the primary medium in which trees talk. The properties of w- waves are equally as interesting as the fact that trees can talk. These waves travel very slowly. In air they travel at 4.9 m/s and in plants about 0.96 m/s. That is extremely slow considering light waves, electromagnetic waves etc. travel at the speed of light i.e. about 3 x 10^8 m/s and sound waves at 340 m/s. These are believed to be on the same lines as a standing wave. As of today they remain a highly debated subject. Trees are believed to emit these waves and neighboring trees have been seen to respond in the same kind of waves with varying strength.

When a tree is attacked by an animal or insect, or when sudden climate change occurs, specific kind of w- waves seem to be emitted by trees. The more startling fact however is that a tree can feel when it is been cut or falling by some other reason and gives out the strongest of w-waves and neighboring trees also respond with a strong w- wave. In a way, a tree screams at its loudest when being cut. It can feel the pain.

Just as humans use many mediums other than just sound waves like signaling etc, similarly trees use chemical emissions to communicate with other trees. Ian Baldwin, a biologist and the director of the Molecular Ecology Department at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany has discovered that plants actually call for help when under attack. Not only from other plants but other animals too. A symbiotic relationship has developed through evolution between plants and several insects and animals which was until recently unknown. He discovered that when a tobacco plant is attacked by a leaf eating caterpillar, the plant emits a certain chemical which attracts kind of wasp that actually lays eggs in the caterpillar and eventually the eggs hatch and the caterpillar is eaten inside out.

Trees also react to small changes in weather. They are believed to emit a natural painkiller, methyl salicylate when they feel pain, like when pests attack, around small cuts or when it gets too cold than normal etc. Trees are also much more social than thought. They have shown signs of possessing complex emotions. They can recognize their siblings and family members according to the studies by Susan Dudley and Amanda File of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. They do not compete against family members. They also warn others of an impending attack by insects. If one plant is attacked by insects, surrounding plants immediately emit chemicals that repel these insects according to study from Kyoto University in Japan.

Can trees communicate with humans? Not much is known on this subject but according to experiments by the Royal Horticultural Society, talking to trees makes them grow faster, especially if you are a woman. The potential that decoding the communication between trees has is priceless. Imagine if we could really understand trees.

There are trees that are centuries old and have witnessed major events in history we have only read about. These trees might have passed down so many stories from their predecessors like humans have by word of mouth. The possibilities are limitless. Also if these trees really do talk using w - waves, they could be aware of impending earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as a relation between them is believed to exist, though not yet confirmed.

Although one should not expect kind words from these trees. Especially us humans for we are the ones who have exploited these miracles of nature for the longest of time. Other than wiping out millions of acres of trees and even more species, we have not even begun to realize our mistakes. Genetically mutating them, pumping them with all kinds of chemicals and so many other things, cultivating them for the singular reason of food- does it not sound eerily similar to the plot of the movie 'Matrix'.

How long can we expect this species to quietly tolerate? If trees can talk and its growing obvious by the day that they can, by now every plant on this planet knows what the race of humans is doing to them. Every time a chainsaw brings down a mighty oak, its scream is being heard for miles. If you are sitting on a wooden chair, you could be sitting on a carved carcass of a hundred year old elder respected by an entire forest. How does this society treat a murderer? What would be the punishment for Hitler who had killed millions, were he alive today? Should the trees look at us any different?

History is witness to the fact that a group of individuals will tolerate oppression only for so long. Revolt is a given after a certain period of helplessness. Though farfetched but the idea that all the trees of this planet might one day say enough is enough is not completely unfound. What if all of a sudden all trees start emitting chemicals harmful, or worse, fatal to human beings. Don't forget that there exist various poisonous plants, fruits, flowers etc. in many places. They definitely do have the capability and the intelligence to do so. It is Darwin's law at its grandest, survival of the fittest. If the elimination of humans is the only way left for plants to survive, global warming is soon to be joined by another threat to the human race.

It is high time that we show the trees the respect they deserve. Positive steps are been taken by a few in our society, but the majority chooses to remain uninterested. For centuries now we have treated all plant life only as a commodity. Even insects enjoy more respect from humans than plants do, which is sad. How eagerly humans have taken to exploring space looking for intelligent life. How can we hope to communicate with an alien if we haven't even begun to understand our oldest neighbors?

That tree outside your window might have seen you grow from a baby to an adult. It might know you better than most of your friends. The least you can do is give it a smile. Who knows, it might just smile back.

References -

Science Frontiers - (http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf063/sf063b11.htm)

O. E. Wagner (Wagner Research Laboratory) - (http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/org_NWS/NWSci%20journal%20articles/1989%20files/Issue%203/v63%20p19%20Wagner.PDF)

James Owen (National Geographic) - (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/06/070614-plants.html)

Telegraph - (http://cartooncat.newsvine.com/_news/2009/06/22/2956099-womens-voices-make-plants-grow-faster-finds-royal-horticultural-society-)

The Sun - (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2494153/Boffins-say-plants-can-talk.html)

Daily Mail - (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-112942/Plants-talk-say-scientists.html)