What is consciousness?

Recent study's aim to establish the cause (or source) of consciousness in living organisms. My intentions here are entirely on the definition of consciousness and it's relationship with thought. We are only familiar and directly observant of our mindly thoughts, but that of a dog, cat, mouse or even a tree are somewhat harder to distinguish. Is it that a tree can be considered conscious because it is 'aware' that it needs to rotate it's leaves so that the maximum amount of sunlight is incident on the face of the leaf? Or is it just a result of its molecular structure and the tree is intact incapable of NOT facing the sun, in that case knowledge of 'needing' to to survive is somewhat unnecessary. We as humans are aware that we feel hungry and thus we eat, to survive. So do all animals. So what is consciousness? Is it the ability to sit and look at the cosmos and wonder many things or is it just simply the connection to our own bodies.
I would suggest consciousness isn't just inherent or non-existant, but exists in all life with a hierarchy of complexity. That is a mouse is more conscious than a tree, a dog is more conscious than a mouse and the human more conscious than a dog.

|\varphi >=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|h>+|v>)

Beginning of end

At the end of all limits
Is found the start of the end
Of a place with no exits
A road with no bend

Me

Apparently i'm something called a human
I thought I was a result of fusion
Mistaken in a world ran by hooded moths
And guided to reality by prestigious proffs

Imprisoned

Incarcerated by a layer of compressing cloud
I sit in the window
Compelling my frown
Confuzzling how far I cannot see
How dazzling it would be
to look straight back at me.

Answer?

This isn't a figure of writing
or a lagging speech
What I am saying,
is a question we all must breach.

Realism

The pluralistic rationalism
is a deed that must be done,
But the mingled method
Leaves a stung sour taste on my tongue