Chemical Warfare in Plants
By Gene Gade
Many of the earliest journals and diaries of explorers, mountain men and emigrants in Wyoming commented on the prevalence of sagebrush and the distinctive odor it produces. Then as now, the smell of sagebrush and other wild plants is a characteristic feature of the American west
The aroma from sagebrush comes mainly from chemicals similar to turpentine that evaporate into the air.
But, Turpenes aren't the only strange chemical produced by sagebrush, nor is Sagebrush the only plant that produces such chemicals.
In fact, all Plants produce chemicals that give them their unique fragrances, tastes, colors and so on...There are hundreds of thousands of species and millions of such chemicals: -- wildland plants are extremely complex and prolific chemical factories.
So, why do plants go to the trouble of producing all these weird compounds? What's in it for them?
Many of these chemicals are somewhat toxic and they are produced to discourage animals from eating the plant.
Animals, in turn, adapt their behavior by consuming a large variety of plants, thereby avoiding the tummy ache (or worse) that would result from consuming too much of a particular plant and its particular toxins.
The incredibly complex and dynamic chemistry and behavior of plants and animals is one of the things that makes Wyoming fascinating. I'm Gene Gade of the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension.