How does a tree (or any plant, really), know to evolve to produce a delicious fruit or a poison berry, a seed inside an impenetrable shell, or invent a type of flying machine, in order to reproduce? (Each of these examples exists in my backyard)

How do they receive feedback about their evolutionary experiments? How do they know it worked/failed. [10]

  • USSMojave@startrek.website
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    4 months ago

    It doesn’t matter how old the trees can ultimately live, just how long it takes for one of its offspring trees to grow enough to then itself make more offspring. And in some species of trees, that can be as little as 3 years

    • NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      It doesn’t matter how old the trees can ultimately live

      Thinking about it has given me the hint to ask this question :)

      I’m not arguing, I wanted to learn something.