How Did Roses Get Their Thorns?

    Over 400 million years ago, more than two dozen plant species developed prickles. The spiky thorns are what botanists call prickles. Prickles are examples of evolution. Roses grow prickles on their stems, while other plants grow them on their leaves or on the fruit itself. In Brazil, a plant that is related to potatoes has been given the nicknames "Malevolence" and "Purple devil" due to its unpleasant prickles. A recent study found that a single gene is the reason behind the development and evolution of prickles. 

    Zachary Lippman, a plant geneticist intrigued by prickles, was studying a group of crops. Lippman found that plants most likely developed these prickles as a defense mechanism to prevent being eaten or harmed. The prickles can also have other purposes, like some grass species use the prickles to get onto animal fur, and some plant species use the prickles to climb. 

        This plant is called Solanum atropurpureum. This is the plant that is found in Brazil and was nicknamed "purple devil." 

References: 

https://www.hhmi.org/news/not-every-rose-has-its-thorn-and-now-scientists-know-why

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/science/how-did-roses-get-their-thorns.html