The chemical warfare between plants, where one species releases toxic compounds that inhibit the growth or germination of competing plants. Black walnut trees are famous for their allelopathic effects on nearby vegetation.
From Greek 'allelon' (of each other) and 'pathos' (suffering) - literally meaning 'mutual suffering.' The term was coined by Austrian botanist Hans Molisch in 1937 to describe plant-to-plant chemical interactions.
Allelopathy is nature's chemical warfare, where plants wage invisible battles using molecular weapons! Some desert plants like creosote bush create 'dead zones' around themselves by releasing toxins that prevent competitors from growing nearby, ensuring they don't have to share precious water resources.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.