A new study has shown that while growing, plants in fact can sense fear. At the University of Missouri, scientists found that the Thale Cress (a plant related to broccoli, kale, and cabbage, sends out vibrations when a caterpillar tries to eat it. These vibrations cause the plant to produce mustard oils and send them throughout the plant. This only works if the plant is still on the vine, but it’s quite a dynamic discovery showing that plants aren’t simply sedentary organisms.
Vegan because plants don’t have feelings? You’re going to need a new reason.
There are many other plants that have defense mechanisms, such as this one, that cause them to react to certain stimuli in similar ways. This has been observed for quite some time. It is an important feature in plant adaptation and evolution. The longer a plant can survive, the more likely it is to reproduce… survival of the fittest.