The sensitive plant exhibits quick movement in response to touch, sunflowers show relatively slow movement in response to day or night, and growth-related movements in plants are even slower.
How does the speed of movement vary in different plant responses, such as the sensitive plant, sunflowers, and growth-related movements?
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The speed of movement varies in different plant responses. The sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) exhibits rapid leaf folding within seconds when touched. Sunflowers showcase slower movements, as they track the sun’s position over the day, a process known as heliotropism. Growth-related movements, like phototropism or gravitropism, occur gradually over hours to days. These responses involve differential cell elongation. While the sensitive plant shows rapid, reversible movements for defense, sunflowers demonstrate slower, tracking motions for optimal light absorption, and growth-related movements ensure overall plant adaptation to environmental stimuli with varying time scales.