3 ms·
The funny thing is caffeine is produced by the plant to try to poison herbivores. It’s a very effective insecticide. So are perhaps most other drugs made by pla
by etaioinshrdlu 6y ago
The funny thing is caffeine is produced by the plant to try to poison herbivores. It’s a very effective insecticide. So are perhaps most other drugs made by plants.
- dehrmann 6y agoIt's the same thing with nicotine and capsaicin (we like these) and cyanide (not so much).
- jayd16 6y agoWith the exception of fruit perhaps, isn't almost everything produced to deter getting eaten?
- etaioinshrdlu 6y agoYeah, I would say so. But these chemicals are just defense mechanisms with no other benefit to the plant.
- simonsarris 6y agoEggs and milk are produced to be eaten (by the new organism) and are as close to "stuff produced to be eaten" that you get, perhaps. Super nutrient dense growth broths. Seeds and legumes are meant to be eaten (by the new plant), but often have anti-plant-eater defenses (like cyanide), including in fruit. Eggs and milk do not seem to have such an analogue. Fat stores are produced to be eaten (by the host itself), alas.