And yet, it has proven to be an adaptation that has greatly increased their success as a species. In the end, it doesn’t matter to the plant whether it is eaten or not as long as it gets to reproduce - and we’ve spread it around the world.
Comment on Plant Protection
yermaw@sh.itjust.works 4 days ago
I love chilli’s for this. They’ve developed spiciness to discourage getting eaten. We made an entire fucking menu out of it.
LoreleiSankTheShip@lemmy.ml 3 days ago
iamericandre@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Thought you meant the restaurant at first
ch00f@lemmy.world 4 days ago
See also caffeine.
Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 4 days ago
and nicotine and cocaine
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 4 days ago
nicotine in plants are poisonous to people too, because it has high enough concentration, it developed as a defense against caterpillars, which some bugs have evolved resistance. another one is aristholcia, some species are so toxic that a different butterfly not adapted to it will die eating it, even if the caterpillar is adapted to another type of the flower.