5 Surprising Ways Plants Taste Their World (Plus 22 Species That Do It Best)

27. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)

Tobacco plants have a well-developed ability to “taste” for insect attacks by detecting specific chemical cues from herbivores.
In response, they synthesize nicotine—a powerful natural toxin that deters or even poisons would-be pests.
This dynamic defense mechanism helps tobacco survive in environments with heavy insect pressure. Read more