15. Soybean: Counting Nodules
Soybean plants form partnerships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, creating special root nodules. Remarkably, they “count” the number of these nodules and regulate further formation to balance nutrient uptake. This resource-based counting ensures the plant allocates energy efficiently, preventing unnecessary nodule production and optimizing growth. The soybean’s ability to monitor and control its internal resources is a subtle but powerful demonstration of botanical math.
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