Fritillaria evolves to defy harvesting pressure
Abulb species used in Chinese herbal medicine has evolved and changed its leaf colouration, making it less easy to spot by human harvesters. Scientists found that Fritillaria delavayi plants, which survive on the rocky slopes of the Hengduan mountains, in South West China, now match the darker backgrounds most closely in areas where they are heavily collected.
The research indicates that the plant’s use in the medicine trade is triggering the evolution of this species into new colour forms because better-camouflaged plants are more likely to survive. The leaves of the bulb, which has been used in Chinese medicine for 2,000 years, vary in colour, from grey to brown to green at a young age and produces a single yellow flower annually after the fifth year. High prices in recent years have led to increased harvesting.
“It’s remarkable to see how humans can have such a direct and dramatic impact on the colouration