New research reveals that sunflowers exhibit collaborative behavior, enhancing growth conditions for each other in dense environments. These plants engage in a unique motion, known as circumnutation, which allows their roots and shoots to shift in ways that reduce shade and optimize light exposure for all nearby sunflowers.
Historically, scientists have observed this intriguing movement but struggled to understand its underlying purpose. While climbing plants clearly utilize this method to seek new support, the role of circumnutation in other species has remained ambiguous, with debates centering on whether it serves a beneficial function or simply occurs by chance.
