TREES CAN WARN THEIR NEIGHBOURS OF DANGER…

Trees may appear silent, but some can share chemical warning signals. When insects feed on their leaves, certain trees and other plants release airborne chemicals called volatile organic compounds. Nearby plants may detect these signals and prepare their own defences, helping them respond faster or more strongly if attacked. Some of these chemicals can even attract predators that feed on the invading insects. Scientists call this plant-to-plant signalling – not conversation as humans know it, but a remarkable natural warning system hidden in the air around us.