ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Chemotropism

Chemotropism is like finding your way to your favorite toy - but for plants. Just like you like to play with your favorite toy, plants like to grow towards certain things too - like food!

Plants use their roots to search for water and nutrients in the soil, and their stems and leaves to search for sun and air. But sometimes they also need to find specific chemicals that they use for things like defense or reproduction.

Chemotropism is when a plant senses these chemicals in the environment and grows towards them. It's kind of like when you smell your favorite food and your nose leads you to the kitchen.

Plants use special cells in their roots and stems to sense these chemicals, and then they grow in the direction of the chemical source. This way, they don't waste energy growing where there's no food or other valuable resources.

So, chemotropism is like a plant's GPS for finding the things that it needs to survive and thrive.
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