Am J Chin Med. 1994 ; 22(3-4): 205-14.

Experimental evidence of a plant meridian system: III. The sound characteristics of phylodendron (Alocasia) and effects of acupuncture on those properties.

Hou TZ, Luan JY, Wang JY, Li MD.

Xinjiang Academy of Forestry Science, Urumqi, China.

Studies on the sound characteristics of phylodendron performed by measuring the power of plant leaves with a laser beam found that the leaves of phylodendron could produce sound waves at relatively low frequencies (from 50 Hz to 120 Hz). Furthermore, it was found that those leaves could accept external sound wave stimulations, with frequencies lower than 150 Hz giving the strongest responses. When the plants were under stress, such as drought, the sound emissions from the plant's leaves increased approximately 20-30 dB, while the range of response to external sound wave stimulation decreased 10-20 dB. However, these increased emissions returned to normal six minutes after watering. When the stainless steel needles were inserted into the petiole of the plant, spontaneous sound production was increased about 40 dB for the main vein and 6 dB for the mesophyll. This is our third report on experimental evidence that plants might have a meridian system as in humans and other animals.