.An established plant is able to survive a 12-month period and then, in complement with the ecosystem, take care of itself, endure stress, recover and generate offspring able to do the same.
Annual plants just don't have time to get “established.” Even though annuals grow quickly, many of them don't do well without lots of assistance. It takes an established, tested and enduring understanding to develop the proper relationships within the soil. This is not possible when the transition from an annual perspective to a perennial perspective has never been made without lots of assistance in environments these annuals would never survive in on their own.
On the other hand, throughout history, perennials, have proven the ability to take care of themselves. Perennials have an extensive relationship with the soil. This relationship fosters adaptability which is displayed in one way by deeper and wider-reaching root systems.
Annuals are fearful, distrusting and aggressive due to the shortage of their season and shortage of experience of the environment they are in. As a result, annuals will form just enough relationships to get what they need. Then these annuals put all their energy into one moment's legacy due to the limited understanding of never experiencing the same season twice. Perennials are persistent, then patient because they understand time is not an enemy. Perennials form the proper relationships over years, and only then do they go about producing fruit and even then, only to the degree it supports longevity.
Whereas it is assistance that gives annuals a better chance, it is as an assistant to the ecosystem which gives perennials every possible chance in an ever-changing environment. The weakness of annuals is not understanding how they went from perennials to annuals. The weakness of perennials is an understanding, then and now, of their responsibility in anchoring the ecosystem naturally.
There is sufficient evidence to know an ecosystem dominated by annuals is vulnerable in every way. Equally so, there is sufficient evidence on display of perennials' large role in anchoring the ecosystem, thus, perennials are here to stay.
9 Ways Plants Get Water Naturally, Unity Consciousness #351
