kelseebratley
Tread Softly (Cnidoscolus stimulosus)
This plant pictured above is Cnidoscolus stimulosus, however it is more commonly known as Tread Softly. As the name suggests, it can be quite painful if someone were to step on this thorny shrub accidentally. This plant is displaying an ecological process known as constitutive defense. Constitutive defense is where an organism, such as this plant, has fixed features, such as thorns, in order to protect itself from predation. This type of defense is extremely effective. Very few animals or insects will be interested in a plant that physically painful for them to touch, thus protecting the plant in the long run.
One main principle that I have learned from the environment is to never be tricked by an organisms appearance. Although the plant above may display beautiful, petite, white flowers, be warned. It has actually evolved throughout the years to have a very successful, yet painful, defense mechanism.
Tread Softly (Cnidoscolus stimulosus)
This plant pictured above is Cnidoscolus stimulosus, however it is more commonly known as Tread Softly. As the name suggests, it can be quite painful if someone were to step on this thorny shrub accidentally. This plant is displaying an ecological process known as constitutive defense. Constitutive defense is where an organism, such as this plant, has fixed features, such as thorns, in order to protect itself from predation. This type of defense is extremely effective. Very few animals or insects will be interested in a plant that physically painful for them to touch, thus protecting the plant in the long run.
One main principle that I have learned from the environment is to never be tricked by an organisms appearance. Although the plant above may display beautiful, petite, white flowers, be warned. It has actually evolved throughout the years to have a very successful, yet painful, defense mechanism.