Can Plants Actually Talk to Each Other?Yes. Sort of. Plants can release airborne chemicals that neighboring plants detect and respond to.They don’t have mouths or little neighborhood meetings. But apparently, they can warn the neighbors when something starts eating them.Related Rabbit HolesWhy Does Freshly Cut Grass Smell?Do Trees Have Their Own Internet?Are Those Seeds on Strawberries Actually Fruits?Wait. Are My Plants Gossiping About Me?Imagine a caterpillar starts munching on a plant.Rude, first of all.The damaged plant releases chemicals into the air. Nearby plants of some species can detect those chemicals and prepare their defenses.And some plants release scents that attract insects that prey on their attackers.That’s right. Some plants can effectively call in backup.“Margaret, there’s a caterpillar eating my leaves. Send the wasps.”It’s chemistry, not a conversation. But the neighborhood-watch effect is real in certain plants.And that’s just what happens above the ground. What about trees connected underground? That’s another rabbit hole.Further ReadingTrends in Plant Science: Green Leaf Volatiles and Plant DefenseNature Ecology & Evolution: Evidence and Claims About Underground Fungal Networks