Science
Chinese flower has evolved to be less visible to pickers – The Guardian
Fritillaria delavayi, used in traditional medicine, turning grey to blend into rocks
For thousands of years, the daintyFritillaria delavayi has grown slowly on the rocky slopes of the Hengduan mountains in China, producing a bright green flower after its fifth year.
But the conspicuous small plant has one deadly enemy: people, who harvest the flower for traditional Chinese medicine.
As commercial harvesting has intensified, Fritillaria delavayi has vanished by rapidly evolving to produce grey and brown leaves and flowers that cannot be so easily seen by pickers.
Scientists have…
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