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Sure plants can sense, but they certainly cannot think and are not conscious, at least not remotely in the way an animal is. Thinking and consciousness evolved as a mechanism to coordinate movement, and sessile creatures have no use for them. Look at animals without nervous systems. They are mostly sea creatures who lie in wait and filter their food through the passing currents (e.g. sponges, corals and anemones). Sensory capabilities and consciousness do not have to intersect. Good, fascinating article; stupid title.