The Seduction of Poison
The plant kingdom has it all figured out. But have we been telling the story incorrectly?
Most people put plants into a category of inanimate objects. If they don’t move, they aren’t seen as “alive.” Plants, however, are very much alive, very active and even, you might say (I certainly do), entirely conscious.
What seem like random characteristics and qualities are actually very deliberate designs of survival. The smell and colors of flowers make them attractive to bees, thus ensuring their propagation. The way a plant leans and the way the bark of a tree twists indicates its attempt to move toward light and water. Poisonous plants developed toxins as a defense mechanism to keep browsers from killing them.
The poisonous plants are the most fascinating to me. It’s amazing to think of the strategy involved in the evolution of these plants. Some are very direct, scaring off threats with things like thorns and brambles. But others take it to another level — toxicity and even death.
Most animals can detect these toxins and as such, the mechanism works perfectly, keeping the plant in question safe. But humans aren’t equipped with this sophisticated sensate awareness that most other animals have. Humans are often fooled by appearances, mistaking hemlock for parsley, or…
