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AsianScientist (Dec. 16, 2020) – To evade humans, bulbs of a plant traditionally used in Chinese medicines have evolved to blend in with their environment. These findings were reported by a team of researchers from China in Current Biology.
The plant Fritallaria delavayi has a rich history in traditional Chinese medicine, having been used for over 2,000 years to treat heart and lung ailments. Found on the gray, rocky slopes of the China’s Hengduan mountains, the plant produces a single, bright green flower after five years. Given its relative rarity, over 3,500 individual plants are needed to produce one kilogram of medicinal powder—fetching a hefty sum of US$480.
Unsurprisingly, F. delavayi’s allure has intensified, making it a prime target for commercial harvesters. Over the years, study first author Dr. Niu Yang and his colleagues at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences noticed that the plant’s color varied considerably across populations. Depending on the place of harvest, the plant’s flower could be dull shades of brown and grey, instead of the usual green.
Looking to assess the impact of commercial harvesting on F. delavayi’s color, Niu surveyed leaf and rock colors in eight populations from southwest China. They found that in areas with higher rates of harvesting, the plants were better camouflaged.
To further confirm these findings, the team also developed an online citizen science game fittingly called “Spot the Plant.” In the game, people were asked to spot the plants as quickly as possible within their native habitats. True enough, plants that blended into the background took longer for people to find.
Though the researchers speculated that other animals, like herbivores, could be driving camouflage evolution, current evidence suggests that it is unlikely. So far, herbivores appear to be rarely found in the areas where F. delavayi grows. Moreover, the plant produces chemicals that are known to deter rodents and other potential predators. Ironically, these same chemicals are responsible for the plant’s medicinal effects.
While camouflage is certainly beneficial for F. delavayi when it comes to evading humans, Niu and his team are hoping to explore the potential downsides of muted colors.
“In heavily collected populations, camouflage in flowers may weaken their attractiveness to pollinators such as bumblebees,” said Niu. “We aim to find out how the plants deal with this problem.”
The article can be found at: Niu et al. (2020) Commercial Harvesting Has Driven the Evolution of Camouflage in an Alpine Plant.
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Source: Cell Press; Photo: Niu Yang.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
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