Müllerian and Batesian mimicry rings of white-variegated aposematic spiny and thorny plants: A hypothesis

Abstract

Twenty-one wild spiny or thorny plant species growing in Israel have been found so far that are conspicuous because of white stripes and spots found on their leaves. Twenty of these species occupy open habitats, and only one is a climber (Smilax aspera) that is found in both shady and open habitats. I propose that these spiny, thorny, or prickly conspicuous plants form a defensive Mullerian mimicry ring. The genus Launaea (Asteraceae) includes several species that are both white variegated and spiny or thorny (a defended Mullerian mimicry ring), and four non-thorny but variegated plants (a Batesian mimicry ring). I propose that these four species that form a non-defended Batesian mimicry ring enjoy the indirect protection of both their co-generic spiny and thorny species and also of defended plants from other taxa. The long history of the considerable impact of grazing in this arid region seems to have selected for this character.