Eli5: How do calatheas (plants) open and close every day and night without anything resembling muscle?
In: Biology
When the sun starts to warm the water in and on the petals, the pressure of the liquid inside cells at the base of the petals increases. (This is called turgor pressure.) As the cells expand and become rigid, they cause the flower to unfold. Sometimes, it’s caused by light. When the light hits outer flower petals it triggers a chemical called auxin that causes cells to grow and expand. This causes the flower to open. But because its inner petals are less exposed to light, those cells remain the same and cause the flower to close once light is gone.
Many plants move in response to the sun. Sunlight triggers the release of certain hormones, which cause special cells to either absorb more water and expand, or expel water a contract, causing movement.
Latest Answers