How do plants use camouflage?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Plants utilize advanced camouflage strategies in addition to visual deception in desert plants in order to avoid detection by herbivores in a variety of habitats. More than 200 species of plants worldwide have adopted a mimicry technique, such as color matching, pattern replication, and shape imitation, to minimize their recognition by herbivores and subsequently reduce their risk of predation.
Background Matching
- Lithops mimic stones in African deserts
- Corydalis hemidicentra resembles rocks in temperate forests
- Uses color and texture convergence with environment
Object Mimicry
- Passion vines fake Heliconius butterfly eggs
- Boquila trifoliolata copies neighboring leaf patterns
- Creates visual confusion for specialized herbivores
Decay Imitation
- Malaysian orchids resemble dead foliage
- Dracula orchids mimic fungal-infected plants
- Discourages herbivores seeking nutritious tissue
The development of camouflage involves complex biological processes. For instance, plants such as Boquila trifoliolata analyze the leaves of adjacent plants through light spectrum detection and then alter pigment production so that the leaf surface matches patterns. Lithops evolved differently, developing windowed leaves that scatter light, giving rise through special epidermal cells to textures resembling those produced by stones.
Ecosystems benefit from more than single-species protection. Camouflaged plant forms alter the feeding habits of herbivores. Passion vine mimicry reduces the deposition pressures on host plants by butterflies. Decay-mimicking orchids attract grazers toward more nutritious foods, thereby promoting the balance of species.
These concepts are applied in the field of horticulture for sustainable gardening practices. Landscapers place boulders, similar to plants like Corydalis, in xeriscaping to reduce water needs. Greenhouse growers induce patterns of egg semblance on greenhouse crops, thus protecting them from disease without the use of pesticides. These products save 25% in trimming but preserve the beneficial insects.
Research shows that camouflage develops rapidly in response to changing threats. Studies reveal that the egg spot patterns of the passion vines, as they are passed down from generation to generation in the butterfly population, are revised by the plants within a short time frame of a few generations. Other investigations show that Boquila trifoliolata imitates a new food plant within weeks (after transplanting), demonstrating its intelligence and adaptability.
Read the full article: 9 Plant Defense Mechanisms Explained
