This has been documented many times within the Plant Kingdom, as well in the Kingdom of those things called Animals. Environmental conditions push for traits that enable a species to defend itself, to increase the chances of survival and/or reproduction. Astrophytum asterais and Euphorbia obesa may rely on specific patterns and shapes to warn of their toxicity to prevent what might be fatal herbivory, but what about other stresses a plant must be under? As Bryophytes were working out Gemmae cups, Selaginella was teasing out rhizophores, and Pteridosperms were trying to put a seed together, others were thinking a bit bigger. Surely at least the more highly evolved, derived species had time to ponder the greater questions of life. Why am I here? Why am I green? Are these Sepals or Petals? And most importantly, Why am I wearing a Tuxedo? This is something few plants have had to ask themselves, but for one South African geophyte, style comes naturally. Oddly enough, a certain bird halfway around the world gazes into its shiny trinket that was recently ripped from the hands of toddler, only to wonder, Why am I so dressed up? For whatever reason, evolution led both Plant and Animal down the same convergent path, but not one of sharp appendages or terrible tastes, but one of elegance and utmost refinement. Nature has endowed Picca nuttalli (Yellow-billed Magpie) and Spiloxene capensis (Painted Peacock Flower) with a style matched only by the most pompous of aristocrats.
Nature never ceases to boggle my mind.
Sources:
Spiloxene capensis - Ruth Ripley, 2004
Picca nuttalli - Jack Sutton, http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin000ec/3838970090/
More amazing pictures of YBMP - http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/yellowbilledmagpie/interesting/
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