Robin Wall Kimmerer — The Intelligence of Plants

Ecological Role

Mosses, often overlooked, play a crucial role in ecosystems due to their unique adaptability. Robin Wall Kimmerer highlights their ability to thrive in spaces too small for other plants, emphasizing their role in biodiversity as "the coral reefs of the forest" 1. Despite their small size and low competitive ability, mosses have persisted for 350 million years, showcasing their success through cooperation and resource sharing 2. This challenges the notion that competition is the primary driver of biological success.

Mosses build soil, they purify water. They are like the coral reefs of the forest.

--- Robin Wall Kimmerer

Their presence is integral to the functioning of forests, as they purify water and provide habitats for various invertebrates 1.

   

Symbolism in Mosses

Mosses offer profound symbolic lessons in simplicity and cooperation. Robin Wall Kimmerer expresses "photosynthesis envy," admiring plants' ability to transform air, light, and water into sustenance for the world 3. She contrasts scientific observation with indigenous knowledge, which involves listening and emotional understanding, to gain a holistic view of nature 3. This dual approach enriches our perception of the natural world.

Attention is that doorway to gratitude, the doorway to wonder, the doorway to reciprocity.

--- Robin Wall Kimmerer

Kimmerer also discusses the "grammar of animacy," advocating for language that respects the living world, as seen in the Potawatomi language, which does not objectify living beings as "it" 4.