“Once a plant is attacked, leaves on the opposite side of the plant, or on neighbors of the same species, detect these chemicals and plan early defenses.

“And, although unusual, the signaling can work across species, too: Sagebrush, tomatoes and tobacco plants, for example, can share defense messages, said Richard Karban, an ecologist who studies the interactions between plants and herbivores at the University of California.”

“Don’t concentrate so much on the finger pointing at the moon that you miss all that heavenly glory.”