Do plants “see”?

[kinyonga]

“he got the idea for the study after reading about the eye-spots of Chlamydomonas algae and the lens-like cells of certain cyanobacteria. He says he wondered if a similar sort of rudimentary vision might be common to all plants.”…
https://www.the-scientist.com/can-p...rsial-study-the-answer-is-still-unclear-70796

 

[dinomom]

“he got the idea for the study after reading about the eye-spots of Chlamydomonas algae and the lens-like cells of certain cyanobacteria. He says he wondered if a similar sort of rudimentary vision might be common to all plants.”…
https://www.the-scientist.com/can-p...rsial-study-the-answer-is-still-unclear-70796

I think there must be something "like" vision operating for a couple of reasons. Plants always turn toward the sun. (although this could be heat receptors??) My sunflowers face in exact opposite directions in the morning and the evening.

Also, vines make a beeline towards a tree or a wall. I have one that has new tendrils/vines coming all around the plant, and ALL of them are heading toward a wall that is on one side. Maybe this is also a heat reaction, or the plant can sense a disruption in the light which must mean there is a solid obstacle-ie a wall or a tree.

Either way it is fascinating!