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Gilles Tran wrote:
> Note that some plants have evolved to produce cadaver smell as a
> defensive mechanism.
Or even as a means to attract insect polinators. (E.g., Refflesia.)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Gilles Tran schrieb:
> Why amines are foul-smelling to us may have something to do with
> evolution (i.e. animals associating the smell of death with danger).
> Note that some plants have evolved to produce cadaver smell as a
> defensive mechanism.
Interestingly, other plants produce cadaver smell to /attract/ animals
(insects) as part of their reproduction.
The biggest blossoms in all of nature /stink/ like hell of rotten flesh.
They want flies, not bees.
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Warp wrote:
> Why is it that when a dead animal rots, it's one of the strongest and
> worst smells in existence (so bad that it even sticks to any surfaces
> nearby and is extremely hard to get rid of), but when a dead tree rots,
> the smell is not bad at all (in fact, it could even be considered
> pleasant) and doesn't stick so much?
Well, the matter that is degenerating is different. Tissue that rots has
lots (billions) of anaerobic bacteria and micro-organisms (and certain
insects) that are converting the dead cells into their "food" (or home, or
food for their offspring), releasing byproducts in the process - gases that
smell bad.
When a tree rots it is wood that degenerates. I. e. different kinds of
bacteria and insects take an interest, and the byproducts they produce
happen not to smell that bad to humans.
A dead body's scent will of course be screaming "lunch!" to many kinds of
animals, while I think a dead tree is also screaming "lunch!" - only to
different kinds of microbes that do not need to emit noxious (to humans)
gasses when they metabolize what they are eating.
--
Stefan Viljoen
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Here's a better one: Why do humans think flowers are pretty?
PS. Think about this next Valentine's Day: You are basically cutting off
the reproductive organs of another living organism and arranging them in
a vase like trophies. An appropriate gift to your reproduction
partner, eh? ;-)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Le 13/11/2009 21:18, Orchid XP v8 nous fit lire :
> Here's a better one: Why do humans think flowers are pretty?
>
>
>
> PS. Think about this next Valentine's Day: You are basically cutting off
> the reproductive organs of another living organism and arranging them in
> a vase like trophies. An appropriate gift to your reproduction partner,
> eh? ;-)
>
Simile Law: offer sexual organs to get sexual organs offered...
Looks at an orchid now, and blush!
Now, what is it with all this chocolat-thing ?
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Le_Forgeron <jgr### [at] free fr> wrote:
> Now, what is it with all this chocolat-thing ?
What's chocolate made of? Cacao tree *seeds*, and *milk*. Can it get any
more direct of a reference than that?
--
- Warp
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Warp wrote:
> Le_Forgeron <jgr### [at] freefr> wrote:
>> Now, what is it with all this chocolat-thing ?
>
> What's chocolate made of? Cacao tree *seeds*, and *milk*. Can it get any
> more direct of a reference than that?
Nope - that explains it!
--
Stefan Viljoen
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Warp wrote:
> What's chocolate made of? Cacao tree *seeds*, and *milk*. Can it get any
> more direct of a reference than that?
I'm reminded of that scene from Look Who's Talking where the guy makes a
cup of coffee using breast milk by mistake... ;-)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Counterexamples:
A) Hamburger, when it very first gets that brown tinge.
B) That purple stuff that comes in mesclun salad mix, which decays before you
get home.
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Warp wrote:
> Why is it that when a dead animal rots, it's one of the strongest and
> worst smells in existence (so bad that it even sticks to any surfaces
> nearby and is extremely hard to get rid of), but when a dead tree rots,
> the smell is not bad at all (in fact, it could even be considered pleasant)
> and doesn't stick so much?
Probably because we don't eat trees, but do eat animals. Spoiled meat
contains some of the most lethal microbes and toxins known. Therefore,
to prevent untimely demise, we have a keen sense of smell to detect the
most common dangers that could be mistaken for food.
If we were in the habit of eating trees, and if eating a rotten tree was
a quick way to the next life, rotting trees would stink to our senses.
Regards,
John
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