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Name: Sheila H.
Status: educator
Age: 50s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 9/6/2004
Question:
Please tell me why leaves turn upside down when a storm is almost here?

Replies:
Possibly helpful, although probably depends upon the plant species and its physiology and responsiveness, and environmental conditions.

http://employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/biol327/Lecture/plant-way.htm

"Plants typically respond by various growth movements to unpredictable, usually short-term environmental fluctuations, like changes in temperature or light, . For example, some flowers like crocus are temperature sensitive and open when it is warm and close when it is cooler. The flowers of an alpine species (Gentiana algida) close up before a thunderstorm. The flowers actually respond to the decreased temperature associated with the storm front and close to avoid pollen being washed out of the flower by the rain."

Anthony Brach Ph.D.


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