Author: Alex Yang
Editors: Jaylen Peng, Junyu Zheng
Artist: Olivia Yuan
Have you ever reached into a bush to retrieve a lost ball, only to pull your hand back in sudden pain and see an army of spikes covering the plant? Those little spikes ,either thorns, prickles, or spines, are one of the many adaptations that certain plants have acquired over time as they evolved. Plants are diverse and unique species because they adapt to sudden changes to help them thrive in their environment, in a process called ecological adaptation. In this case, the plants' sharp teeth act as a defense mechanism to fend off any hungry herbivorous predators waiting to consume them.
Thorns, prickles, and spines are a hard, rigid extension or modification of leaves, roots, stems, or buds with sharp, stiff ends. They can be found in various plants like roses, agaves, and honey locusts. In any case, these tiny weapons are enough of a deterrent for some herbivores, serving as a sufficient defense mechanism. However, despite the similarities in approach, the three kinds of sharp points that a plant may use come from entirely different parts. Prickles are the woody outgrowth from a plant's skin or bark, thorns are the plant's modified branches or stems, and spines are the leaves of a plant.
Thanks to evolution, these little pricks started to gain additional purposes besides just poking predators. Some have developed hooks that cling onto surfaces, making it easy to attach their seeds to the fur of passing animals. Meanwhile, the prickly spines of some organisms help them survive in dry environments like the desert. A cactus' famous characteristic, its spiky spines, helps it survive in the hot desert by casting shadows and cooling down the body of the cactus, acting as an umbrella. Additionally, in the morning fog, the spines of a cactus enable the formation of water droplets that eventually run down the plant and into its roots.
These tiny pricks may have some valuable and unique roles that benefit themselves, but on a larger scale, they benefit the whole ecosystem. These plants can last longer in the environment due to their defense mechanism, giving them more time to absorb carbon dioxide and purify the air, creating a healthier ecosystem while also slowing down the rate of climate change. Not only do they cleanse the air, but they also reduce soil erosion by reinforcing the soil with its roots, keeping the soil in place. This action leads to decreased floods, pollution, and biodiversity loss, costly issues that heavily impact the environment.
To herbivores, the plant's thorns, prickles, and spines only act as a hurdle to jump over, but they serve a great deal for the environment. With the plant's sharp teeth acting as a defense mechanism, it does an exceptional job despite the numerous other tasks that rely on it. Reducing the rate of climate change, soil erosion, flooding, and more results from the plant's prickly suit of armor defending the plant from any hungry animal.
Citations:
Hathaway, Bill. “Yale Scientists Solve a Thorny Problem.” YaleNews, 18 Nov. 2021,
“How Plants Help the Environment.” Golden Arrow Home,
%20in,to%20sustain%20life%20on%20Earth. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
“Spines, Thorns, and Prickles.” The Huntington, huntington.org/verso/2020/07/spines-thorns-
and-prickles. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
“Thorns, Spines, and Prickles.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Aug. 2024,
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