Do Plants have feelings too? Questioning the

[Guest guest]

>If plants wanted to be eaten, then why would they evolve defences

 

I already pointed this out.

 

Most plants have evolved specific parts to be eaten by

animals, as part of their reproductive systems.

 

They often defend other parts, such as the leaves that

produce their nutrition via photosynthesis -- but the grasses and

grains use their leaves much as other plants use their flowers,

fruits, and tubers.

 

More sophisticated plants grow flowers or fruit that can only

be consumed by certain species who are particularly likely to

distribute their seeds in a favorable manner. This has reached

extremes in the various adaptations of certain South American

flowering trees to attract specific species of hummingbirds, whose

bills are tapered or curved to suit just that flower.

 

Evolution to attract partial consumption by animals is a

characteristic ubiquitous among plants, and unique to plants.

 

No animal has undergone a comparable evolutionary process --

although humans have imposed adaptations to enhance edibility on

various livestock species, these convey no inherent advantage to the

animal, whereas being eaten by the right animal is essential to the

propagation of most plants.

 

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

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