Darwin
called the plant Hedysarum; modern botanists call it either Desmodium Gyrans,
or more correctly these days, Codariocalyx Motorius. Its common name is Dancing
Grass or Telegraph Plant or Semaphore Plant -- after the leaf movements, which
resemble semaphore signals. For all of its uses this plant is easy to grow,
dancing happily on a sunny windowsill and watered when dry. Some say it dances
best to the "Greatful Dead!"
This
peculiar shrub, native to Asia, has sparked the interests of botanists and others
alike. The leaflets move in set elliptical patterns to help deduce the position
of the sun (to appropriately expend energy moving the larger leaves where
fitting). The intense fascination with these plants does not occur from its
flowering habits, its peculiar “behavior”, or even its life cycle. The most
intriguing thing about this plant is that it moves when stimulated by sound.
Touching the plants will not cause the move, as Mimosa pudica (the Sensitive
Plant) does. Changing the amount of light will not typically affect the
elliptical movement of the leaflets. When exposed to sound, particularly high
pitch (high frequency) sound waves, however, the plant’s leaflets and leaves
move in a peculiar fashion. The leaves move dramatically enough, and quick enough,
to be reasonably observed the human eye (time lapse photography or videos can
show its movements even more so).
Besides
being extraordinarily fascinating, the sensitivity to sound raises many
questions.
Why is this plant in particular sensitive to sound and not other
environmental factors? What causes the plant to move so uniquely when exposed
to sound, and does it improve its “dancing” through some faintly related type
of memory? More importantly, what function does it serve? Moving in such
conspicuous fashions would attract predators, herbivores, although it may ward
off certain insects. Although it is likely that some complex chain of chemical
reactions causes the plant to move, this is not entirely understood.
Codariocalyx
motorius (Dancing Plant, Telegraph Plant) [formerly Desmodium gyrans]
Deciduous:
In colder areas, Telegraph Plants go into dormancy. In warmer climates, though,
it grows year-round.
Growth Rate: fast, especially when young
Height:
from 2 to 4 feet tall at maturity
Diameter:
not specified
Occurrance:
perennial
Root
System: The roots are used for Rheumatism.
Family:
Fabaceae
Subspecies:
var ‘glaber’
Tolerates:
Generally pest free.
Problems
(major): no major issues
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