sensebotanical

Sensebotanical is a proposed field or concept that examines how plants perceive and respond to their environment. It encompasses aspects of plant physiology, sensory ecology, and ethnobotany, focusing on the sensory processes within plants rather than human sensory experiences of plants.

Core areas include photoreception (phytochromes, cryptochromes), chemical sensing (hormone signaling, detection of volatile compounds), mechanosensing (thigmotropism, touch, turgor changes), thermal and gravitropic sensing, and electrical signaling that coordinates systemic responses.

The term sensebotanical emerged in scholarly discussions in the early 21st century as researchers highlighted sensory dimensions of plant biology. It is used variably, sometimes as a framework for integrating sensory biology with botany, ecology, and philosophy of mind.

Researchers in this area use molecular genetics, imaging, electrophysiology, and computational modeling to map perception pathways; field experiments examine plant responses in natural settings; and scholars consider methodological limits, avoiding anthropomorphic interpretations while acknowledging plants' complex information processing.

Applications include improving crop resilience by identifying environmental cues that trigger defensive or adaptive responses, informing sustainable agriculture, and inspiring bio-inspired sensor technologies or horticultural practices. Sensebotanical therefore serves as a multidisciplinary lens on plant life and its interactions.