The binary sunshine, or lucinaria fibriata,[2] (Na'vi name: penghrrap meaning "danger-teller") is one of the many plants on Pandora with a simple animal-like nervous system that continues to baffle scientists studying the plant because of its blend of plant and animal characteristics, which makes it a zooplantae.
This herbaceous plant is rather tall. It is unusual due to its advanced mechanism of bioluminescence. The leaves of the plant are modified into enclosed bulbous structures that resemble Earth-made lamps when they glow. These are able to detect the presence of danger by sensing the emission of volatile stress hormones from living organisms. For the Na'vi, the colors emitted by the glowing leaves signal whether the landscape is calm or danger is near. The binary sunshine reproduces when a leaf falls or is removed from the plant body onto the ground. The leaf then produces adventitious roots from its base and begins growing as an independent ‘planimal’.
The Na'vi collect these leaves and plant them at strategic points to be used as sentinels to signal approaching threats.
Earth[]
There is a potentially huge market on Earth for these plants which can be used for lighting which that does not contribute to global warming or pollution. Furthermore, this plant has the potential to become a ‘bio-lie detector’ by measuring the emission of stress hormones of any test subject.
The potential effects of the plant being introduced into Earth's ecosystem, either to an advantage or disadvantage is not yet known.
Trivia[]
Seen in the bottom left corner
Avatar social media claims that they can be seen in the first film during the fight between Neytiri and Miles Quaritch.[1]
One appears in the bottom left corner, when Jake is taking out his knife, just before Quaritch asks Jake how it feels to betray his own race. This binary sunshine seems to have a more indigo-blue color on its edges instead of a reddish color. This could suggest that its warm reddish-orange edges may turn a cooler blue shade upon sensing danger, as Jake and Quaritch would be stressed from the final battle.
Binary sunshine seen on the right
In Avatar: The Way of Water, a few can be seen throughout. One appears when a young Miles Socorro is going to the Na'vi village, when Jake says "He wasn't part of our family." A couple can be seen behind Quaritch in the forest just before he tells his group they need to live like the Na'vi.
One appears when the Recom squad is close to the link shack and appears to have purple edges, suggesting it may be mildly affected by the fear of the squad who recently encountered a viperwolf and are on edge. This could mean orange > purple > blue is the color change as it detects stress.
