The surprising way sunflowers work together to get enough light

Sunflowers move in a way that helps their neighbours. The seemingly random motion of the plants’ roots and shoots actually minimises shade cover in crowded environments, ensuring that all of them get enough light to grow.

Scientists have known about this plant motion, known as circumnutation, for centuries, but its purpose has always been elusive. “In climbing plants, it’s clear that it’s a search process, searching for a new stick to twine on. But in other plants, it’s not clear if it’s a bug or a feature,” says Yasmine Meroz…