托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating survival strategy used by some plants called 'mimicry.' Now, mimicry isn't just for animals—plants can use it too, to protect themselves from being eaten. The main point is that some plants have evolved to look like something unappealing or dangerous, which tricks herbivores into leaving them alone. Let me give you two examples. First, there's the 'living stone' plant from South Africa. It looks exactly like the pebbles and rocks around it. During the dry season, when herbivores are desperate for food, they often pass over these plants because they don't recognize them as food. The second example is the 'dead horse arum' lily. This flower smells like rotting meat and even has a dark, fleshy appearance. This attracts flies, which normally lay eggs on dead animals. The flies land on the flower, pollinate it, and importantly, mammals that would normally eat the plant are repelled by the smell. So, in both cases, looking or smelling like something inedible or dangerous reduces the chance of being eaten.