Mimicry in plants

Plants have developed many different ways of adaptation and survival. Depending on the conditions found in their respective habitats, over the years they have achieved truly amazing things, such as going unnoticed in a desert where the few animals that exist spend much of their time searching. something to put in your mouth.

But how do they do it? Well, there are several ways. So Let's see what mimicry consists of in plants, and what are the examples that can attract our attention the most.

What is mimicry?

Although to understand mimicry in plants, first of all we have to know what the definition of that word is. Surely you already have an idea of ​​what it means, but in case you have doubts, you should know that mimicry It is the ability that some living beings (be they animals or plants) have to achieve some advantage that is useful to them.

Different types are known:

• Automatism: It occurs when some part of an animal's body blends in with another more vulnerable one. In this way, you can divert your enemy's attention and escape. For example, there are fish whose tail resembles its head, which is the part that the predator wants to attack. The tail, as it is not so, helps you survive.
• Aggressive mimicry: It occurs when a predatory animal, or a parasite, looks like another that is harmless. For example, some mantises may pass for flowers in order to deceive their victims.
• Bakerian mimicry: occurs when a plant species has practically identical male and female flowers.
• Batesian mimicry: It occurs when a non-dangerous animal is very similar to another that is. For example, flies in the Bombyliidae family resemble some wasps, so they can thrive.
• Leaf mimicry: it occurs when a plant looks like another that is very close to it.
• Dodsonian mimicry: occurs when a plant has flowers that mimic those of another species.
• Mullerian mimicry: It occurs when animals have some characteristic that can keep them safe, such as bad taste. It could be said that, thanks to this, they "educate" their predators while they are young, since they are still learning what is edible and what is not.
• Non-visual mimicry: It occurs a lot in certain animals, but also in plants. For example, they can use their scent to attract their pollinators.
• Mimicry: Pouyannian: Occurs when a flower looks like a female pollinator insect.
• Vavilovian mimicry: occurs when a wild plant is selected because it resembles another that is already being cultivated.

Examples of mimicry in plants

Now that we have seen all the types of mimicry that exist, both in animals and plants, it is time to focus on the latter. Although mimicry in plants is not as studied as that of animals, it is very interesting since it could serve us, for example, to cultivate species that, otherwise, might need some kind of protection.

Amorphophallus titanum

There are many plants that give off a very unpleasant scent in order to attract pollinating insects that like that smell. But if there is one that deserves to be on this list, it is undoubtedly the Amorphophallus titanum. Popularly known as corpse flower, it is a plant native to the jungles of Sumatra (Indonesia) that develops an inflorescence up to 3 meters high, which attracts flies. Then, they will deposit their eggs inside, from which saprophagous larvae will emerge (that is, larvae that feed on decomposing organic matter).

Drosera

Carnivorous plants of the genus Drosera they develop leaves covered by very short stems at the end of which is what looks like a dewdrop, but is actually mucilage. This is a very sticky substance for insects, which end up trapped in it.

Ophrys apifera

La Ophrys apifera is a European orchid whose flowers closely resemble female bees, in every way: shape, colors ... and smell. When a male bee smells the scent, he cannot resist going to the flower and attempting to copulate with it. To do this, you must introduce the abdomen into the calyx, with which it receives a 'bath' of pollen which will transport another orchid.

lamium album

El lamium album It is an herb known as white nettle, and it is also native to Europe. It shares habitat with the 'true' nettle, that is, herbs of the genus Urtica, and it seems that over time she has realized that, because they share characteristics, the animals leave her alone. The funny thing is that both the color of their flowers and their aroma are very different: in fact, while true nettles produce greenish flowers and give off an unpleasant smell, the lamium album It has white flowers and hardly smells anything.

Lithops

The Lithops are known as living stones for a reason: are able to go unnoticed, to blend in with their around. They are native to southern Africa, and about 109 species of different colors are known: greenish, brownish, grayish.

Do you know any other examples of mimicry in plants?