THE SCENTIENCE OF NATURE

2023

In the realm of "Pan-sentience," we are drawn into a contemplative exploration of the enigmatic sentience that resides within the botanical domain. A profound tapestry of interconnectedness unfolds before us, a captivating dance of symbiotic relationships and a mesmerizing hive mind, what we have come to know as the "wood wide web."
Fungi, those mystical entities, weave their gossamer-fine hyphae, delicately infiltrating the soil and intertwining with the very essence of plant roots at a cellular level. Thus, individual plants find themselves entwined within an underground network of hyphae—a marvelously intricate and collaborative structure we now refer to as the "Wood Wide Web."
Remarkably, this intimate relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and the plants they unify dates back an astonishing four hundred and fifty million years, an ancient bond thriving predominantly on the principles of symbiosis—a union where both entities derive mutual benefits from their profound association. As part of this symphony, the fungi partake in a subtle yet strategic exchange, siphoning carbon-rich sugars, a fruit of the trees' labor during the process of photosynthesis. In return, the plants gain access to vital nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which the fungi possess the means to procure from the soil through their enzymatic prowess, a trait absent in the trees themselves.
But the tale of the Wood Wide Web does not merely revolve around this fundamental exchange of nourishment between plants and fungi. Rather, it unfolds into an awe-inspiring spectacle where plants, united through the fungal network, engage in a dance of communication and information-sharing amongst themselves. This revelation prompts us to question the very boundaries of species—do they indeed exist as discrete entities, or is it more apt to envision a forest as a singular superorganism rather than an assembly of individualistic beings? What then, I ponder, does the concept of trading, sharing, and even friendship signify in the realm of plants?

We embark on a journey of unveiling the hidden worlds that pulsate with life and consciousness—where plants thrive in their intricate networks, fostering an interdependent symphony that transcends the confines of the conventional, beckoning us to broaden our perspectives and embrace the richness of Pan-sentience in all its splendor.

Plant blindness is prejudice based on biased thinking that can’t accept the intelligence of plants. This error goes all the way back to Aristotle, who divided the natural world into “inactive” plants and “active” animals.

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars. The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first; Be not discouraged - keep on - there are divine things, well envelop'd; I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.

Walt Whitman