What is Mimicry in Plants?
Mimicry in plants describes when a plant organism has evolved to resemble another organism, increasing its ability to survive and reproduce. These similarities can be physical or chemical.
How Do Flowers That Don't Produce Nectar Encourage Pollination?
Some flowers with no nectar have evolved to attract pollinators by resembling nectar-producing flowers of another species. An example is the Epidendrum ibaguense mimicking the Lantana camara and Asclepias curassavica to attract hummingbirds and Monarch Butterflies.
 Epidendrum ibaguense By Alejandro Bayer Tamayo
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Why Do Plants Mimic Insects?
Around 80% of flowering plants need animals (mainly insects) to help them reproduce via pollination. A petal on the Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) resembles a solitary female bee, making it appear as if a female bee is resting on the flower. As the male bee tries to mate with the petal the action causes it to also collect pollen from the flower. When the bee gets hoodwinked again by another Bee orchid, the pollen on its body is transferred to the new flower to pollinate it.
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Illustration of leaf and flower morphology for Ophrys apifera.
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The Hammer orchid (Drakaea) has a labellum with the same shape and colour as a female Thynnid wasp. The flower also emits a chemical similar to the pheromone produced by the female wasp. A labellum is a petal designed to attract insects and serves as a landing site for them. Once the male Thynnid wasp lands, he tries to carry off the labellum, thinking it's his mate. The female Thynnid wasp is flightless, and copulation occurs during flight as the male carries her to a food source. During this attempt, pollen attaches to him. Once he gives up trying to detach the labellum, he tries his luck elsewhere, possibly on another hammer orchid, transferring the pollen he carries to its stigma.
Do Plants Use Mimicry For
Self-Preservation?
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Cryptic mimicry describes a scenario where a prey organism changes its appearance or habits to avoid detection by a predator. Animals and plants use visual camouflage to conceal themselves, and mimic plants can change their leaves' orientation, colour, shape or texture to achieve this. Researchers hypothesise that cryptic mimicry reduces the chance of the herbivores eating the plant. The South American Boquila trifoliata is a climbing vine that can camouflage itself by mimicking the leaves of the trees and plants it grows on. It has a unique gift and can mimic several hosts despite no parasitic relationships (a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other). Read more here!
Interested In Learning More?
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Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold' By Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man)
Bee Orchid by Bernard DUPONT
Glossy-leaved hammer orchid
- Flickr: Boquila trifoliata
