What a Plant Knows

What a Plant Knows is a popular science book by Daniel Chamovitz, originally published in 2012, discussing the sensory system of plants.^[1] A revised edition was published in 2017.^[2]

Judiciously manipulating similes with dashes of anthropomorphism, Chamovitz introduces each of the vital human senses (all except taste) and explains its meaning for humans as contrasted with its function in plants. There are no noses or eyes as such in the plant world, but there are organs and responses that mimic our physiology. Much like how humans smell food, plants too have chemical receptors that bind to very specific gaseous chemical compounds. The author recounts how willows, attacked by caterpillars, send airborne pheromones to neighboring willows. Warned by these gaseous signals (or “smells”) of a nearby infestation, the neighbors begin manufacturing increased levels of toxic chemicals to render their leaves unpalatable to the caterpillars.^[3]

What a Plant Knows:
A Field Guide to the Senses

Author	Daniel Chamovitz
Language	English
Genre	Science book, Popular science
Publisher	Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux (U.S.)
Publication date	May 22, 2012 (U.S.)
Publication place	United States
Pages	177 (Paperback edition: April 30, 2013); 201(Revised edition: Nov 21, 2017);

Release details / Editions / Publication

Hardcover edition, 2012^[4]
Paperback version, 2013^[5]
Revised edition, 2017^[6]

What a Plant Knows has been translated and published in a number of languages.^[7]

Summary of What a Plant Knows Editions

Language	Publisher	Publication year	notes
English (USA)	Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux	2012	2nd edition 2017
English (UK)	One World	2012	2nd edition 2017
English (Australia)	Scribe	2012	2nd edition 2017
Japanese	Kawade Shobo Shinsha	2012
Chinese (simplified)	Beijing Mediatime Books	2012	2nd edition, 2018
Hebrew	Matar	2013	2nd edition, 2023
Chinese (complex)	Rye Field	2012
German Was Pflanzen wissen: wie sie sehen, riechen und sich erinnern	Hanser	2012	2nd edition, 2017
Korean	Darun	2013	2nd edition 2019
Croatian	Planetopija	2013
Estonian Mida Taim Teab	Aripaev	2012
Polish Zmysłowe życie roślin: podreczny atlas zmysłów	WAB	2013
Italian Quel che una pianta sa: guida ai sensi nel mondo vegetale	Cortina	2013
French La Plante et ses sens	Buchet Chastel	2013	2nd edition 2018
Russian	Centrepolygraph	2017
Serbian	Center for the Promotion of Science	2017
Slovanian	ARA Zalozba	2018
Czech	Academia	2020
Turkish	Metis	2018
Hungarian	Park Konyvkiado Kft	2018
Spanish	Ariel	2019
Thai	Bookscape Publishing House	2024

References

1. Chamovitz, Daniel (30 April 2013). What a Plant Knows: A Field Guide to the Senses. ISBN 978-0374533885.
2. Chamovitz, Daniel (2017). What a plant knows : a field guide to the senses (First revised paperback ed.). ISBN 9780374537128.
3. Graham Jr., Frank (24 July 2012). "Review: What a Plant Knows". Audubon Magazine, July–August 2012.
4. Chamovitz, Daniel (2012). What a plant knows : a field guide to the senses (1st Hardcover ed.). Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374288730.
5. Chamovitz, Daniel (2012). What a plant knows : a field guide to the senses (1st Paperback ed.). Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374533885.
6. Chamovitz, Daniel (2017). What a plant knows : a field guide to the senses (First revised paperback ed.). Scientific American / Farrar, Straus, Giroux. ISBN 9780374537128.
7. "What A Plant Knows". www.whataplantknows.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

• Book Review: What a Plant Knows. The Wall Street Journal.
• "What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz – review". The Guardian.