In a world ruled by natural selection, plants have evolved many methods to escape being eaten by herbivores. These little tricks take many forms, from poisons like deadly nightshade, to spikes on cacti. At the U of M Conservatory Greenhouse I've noticed one particular plant that displays an unusual trick to fool animals that would otherwise eat it in its youth. The leaves of the juvenile lancewood plant from New Zealand are about as photogenic as they are appetizing -- in other words, not at all! The serrated leaves are stiff and barbed. They also appear to be dead, with a desiccated brownish color. But as the plant grows taller, up to 60 feet, it completely changes its form of its leaves, and the trunk grows multiple branches forming a lollipop shaped canopy. The tender green leaves of the mature tree appear similar to eucalyptus leaves, with smooth edges. These tender mature leaves are well above the reach of grazing animals like the giant 12-ft moa bird that roamed New Zealand...
A blog account of gardening from a high-rise apartment in a cold climate.