Plants have developed plenty of ways to repel attack and defend themselves from predators. Stinky aromas, toxic sap, painful thorns — all are designed to keep insects and animals from making a meal out of the plant. Now, researchers have discovered something new: plants that bite back.
Characteristics
Eucnide urens, or Rock Nettle is native to California, Arizona, Utah and Baja California, clearly preferring hotter climates. The flowers that appear in the Summer, are cream or pale yellow, with fine hairs With heights ranging between 30 and 60 cm, this is a plant we suggest observing, not touching! Your best chance of seeing the rock nettle is on a higher altitude hike, usually growing around cliffs and edges.
Defense
A fuzzy plant, covered in fine hairs and star-shaped flowers, Eucnide urens may look harmless, its not. Discovered by German scientists in the South American Andes, researchers quickly noticed this plant had a very unique defense mechanism. The flower contains Calcium Phosphate, a mineral substance found, not only in bones but teeth as well! The calcium phosphate reinforces the fine hairs covering the plant, as a result they are extremely rigid. So when an animal tries to take a bite out of the rock nettle, these 2 – 6 cm, hardened pieces will break off into the animal’s mouth and release a pain inducing chemical. So, it doesn’t take much for a hungry predator to get the hint that these rock nettles are not for snacking on.
Researchers are not quite sure what brought about this evolutionary step, or why this plant in-particular. Normal evolutionary processes are caused by an organism possessing, or lacking, a particular trait. Since it posses the unique ability to metabolize silica, an oxide of silicon, scientists will surely continue studies.
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Featured Image from Azizah Aziz/Shutter Stock
