Plant Self-Defense

To protect against herbivores the wild tobacco plant deposits trichomes, sweet treats irresistible to but also potentially fatal for leaf-eating caterpillars. Shortly after ingesting the trichomes, the insect releases a particular odor that attracts ground-foraging predators. "What Plants Talk About" premieres Wednesday, April 3 at 8/7c on PBS (check local listings).

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Clip Season 31 Episode 9 Length 01:08 Premiere: 04/03/13

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