Plant Sentience

Hi folks,

I've grown mushrooms on and off for the past few years, started growing them as young as 16, took a break for a few years and got into it again - I'm now in my mid 20's. I've always been awed by life, and the natural world. Mainly that of animals and plants. The earthly and spiritual side of things, as opposed to the scientific side - though I am interested in that too. I love watching my mushrooms pin and swell. Definitely a hippy at heart, don't judge!

What are peoples opinions on plant life, if you ever gave it a thought. I find it amazing to think of the transition from seed to full plant. Acorn to oak tree, it's mind blowing. Though we're told, and biology dictates that plants lack sentience, therefore have no emotion - there's definitely life. And that's what counts, right? In fact, there's extensive research which indicates that plants may actually be aware of things other than just environmental factors.

Just as we get attached to pets, I'm beginning to think this way with my first plant grow. I can see there definitely being an emotional attachment to her by the time she's all green and flourishing. I already feel a sense of pride in her so far - despite being through some rough treatment in the early stages after germination - and undergoing 2 replants, she has recently developed beautifully and is well and truly looking healthy and lively. At this rate, I might even hesitate to harvest her and just keep her as a mascot / ornament.

Another aspect of plant life I find amazing is in the power they hold. Medicinal, edible and spiritual use. I think there's a certain respect and reverence our humble foliage commands. I forgot to mention predatory plants - venus fly traps. Definitely one of the most interesting plants.
What do you guys think?

Edit: Optional video link on extrasensory plant perception: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t982ytY9w6E

when i was a kid i would look at a tree with no leaves and think how cool it was that i could in theory uproot that tree and turn it upside down, and it would look pretty much the same. i envisioned an alternate world beneath the soil that was the opposite of ours. instead of collecting sun, the roots collect water, etc.

when we think of a tree, we generally view it based on what's above ground. we are also above ground, so if plants have emotion, we would assume it has to do with things that are above ground, in "our world". concepts like love and sadness and other whatnot that we associate with emotion.

a tree's world is so much bigger than ours. they have all that stuff going on underground. they have a permanent relationship with what most of us forget even exists. maybe underground is where all the action is. maybe the worms slithering over their roots leaving delicious poopies are like a warm caress to them. who knows?

i have no idea whether i sound like a dipshit or not. i'm perc'd the fuck out. completely out to lunch, but i'm feeling this topic and i really love trees. not just the pot kind. lol.

We share a communication system with them in the form of tryptamines and their precursors, something found in just about every living organism.
Substituting some of our own neurochems for tryptamines, opens up a layer of plant to vertibrate communication that was hidden in plain sight all along.

Damn, I enjoyed reading all of that.... good stuff!

I'm having difficulty giving + rep from my droid using the app.... I'll hit you ladys up later from the laptop.