Signal Transduction in Leaf Movement

Abstract

Plants are rooted and immobile and must accept whatever fate brings their way. They are not, however, static. Flowers open and close. Leaves extend to the daylight and fold up by night or, in shade-loving species, turn away from direct sunlight or, in Mimosa pudica, collapse suddenly and dramatically when touched. Modified leaves of the Venus' flytrap snap shut on doomed insect prey.