Why do bananas grow crooked, plants grow to the sunlight and grow straight up and not to the earth? Plants always grow in a certain direction. Sometimes this has to do with the sunlight, sometimes also with the will to grow upwards.
Why are bananas crooked?
It is probably the most pronounced question about bananas: why are they crooked? This has to do with growth. Bananas grow on the banana tree and are large and heavy, elongated fruits. Bananas grow in large clusters on the tree. At first, these elongated fruits grow nice and straight. However, when the bananas get heavier, the whole bunch will sink down due to gravity. The fruits want to keep growing straight up. This creates a curvature in the fruit.
If the banana tree’s truss stem would be supported and it would not sag under the weight, the bananas will continue to grow straight up. Straight bananas are then formed. Trees that produce small bananas often have more straight bananas.
Bananas are curved because they want to grow indirectly towards the sunlight. Growing straight up is a property that almost all plants and trees have. Bananas are also not crooked so that they cannot fall over: André van Duin made a song about this.
Why does a sunflower grow towards the light?
Sunflowers can grow up to three meters high. A sunflower likes to be in the sun, hence the name. They always point their heads towards the sunlight. A stunted sunflower turns with the position of the sun, from east to west. This is made possible by a flexible leaf cushion on which the head of the sunflower stands. When the sunflower is fully grown, the head of the sunflower always points to the east: where the sun rises. This is because the leaf cushion hardens when a fully grown sunflower, so that it can no longer rotate with the sun. For that reason, one always sees a whole row of sunflowers all looking in the same direction.
A rotating sunflower is therefore always an immature or stunted sunflower. A sunflower that always points to the east is mature and will soon be finished.
Why do plants grow towards the light?
Plants like to grow towards the light. in this way they can capture even more light, allowing for more photosynthesis. Light is a prerequisite for good growth. Plants that receive one-sided light, such as on a windowsill, are only illuminated on one side. What people see is that these plants will grow towards the light, so that they can absorb more sunlight. Under the influence of light, the stem part stretches more or less. Where there is little light, the stem part is stretched more, so that the stem will grow crookedly, towards the light.
Why does a plant grow straight up?
A seed needs gravity to determine in which direction it grows. The roots grow with the force of gravity, downwards. The stem itself grows against gravity: straight up. Straight up there is sunlight, which is needed for the energy. The plant needs this energy to be able to grow and bloom. In 2004, seeds were taken into space: the seedlings grew in all directions because there was no gravity. Without gravity, a plant would grow in all directions. A plant develops through gravity and sunlight. Without sunlight it is not possible for a plant to grow.
Plants grow faster in the dark. This has to do with survival: the faster growth gives the plant the chance to quickly grow back towards the light. However, in the absence of light, photosynthesis will not be able to take place. The plant will lose its green color and will eventually die.