The idea that plants can perceive, respond or trying to comunicate has been explored in fiction and science: in 1949, Roald Dahl imagined a machine capable of hearing their cries of pain, and in the 1960s, Cleve Backster attempted to measure their electrical response to stress using a polygraph. More recently, researchers managed to record ultrasonic sounds emitted by stressed plants, opening new possibilities for interpreting these invisible signals.
"Vegetable Wonder"
The telegraph plant (Desmodium gyrans or Codariocalyx motorius) has small leaflets at the base of its larger leaves that circle constantly, driven by water-powered motor cells, moving faster in bright light, heat, and even in response to sound waves—sometimes making a full turn every 90 seconds at 35 °C.
Called a “vegetable wonder” by Charles Darwin in 1881, its true purpose is still unknown, though it may track sunlight, deter egg-laying butterflies, or repel insects.
Plants do not have a central nervous system (CNS), brain, or neurons with the same structure as those found in humans. Therefore, they do not experience pain, pleasure, or emotions in the way humans or animals do. However, they are capable of perceiving physical stimuli such as touch, pressure, and movement, among others, and responding to them in a unique way.
Considering previous research and experiments as a communication bridge between humans, plants, and machines, a Hybrid Interactive Plant-Machine System is developed. The experiment draws an analogy between human and plant epidermis with the help of an artificial skin system. In this setup, the system is activated when the plant is touched, triggering a chain of interactions.
The epidermis is the outermost layer of cells that protects an organism from its external environment. In both humans and plants, it serves similar functions, even though it is made up of different types of cells. In both cases, its main roles are protection and regulating interactions with the environment. This is yet another example of how evolution has developed similar solutions in very different organisms.
Plants can sense stimuli through cells that are sensitive to touch or temperature, triggering internal chemical and electrical signals. This phenomenon is called thigmotropism. In humans, a similar response occurs through rapid nerve impulses and synapses.
A human interacts with the plant through direct touch, and haptic sensations are detected. The plant’s biosensors perceive the stimulus and generate measurable biosignals in response. These biosignals are processed and converted into a usable form of energy and programmed sequences for the artificial skin. Inside a series of mechanical movements are activated, making the skin appear to be a living organism.
The use of Mimosa pudica provides a significant advantage for the described system, as this species exhibits an immediate response to touch, through the phenomenon of thigmonasty, generating stronger and clearer biosignals that enhance detection and amplification for the artificial skin.
This plant-machine system try to invites us to rethink our relationship with nature, inspiring curiosity, wonder, and a deeper respect for the silent lives that surround us.
