Red weapon of roses

Naturalists claim roses, symbolic flowers of love, not only use red to attract the attention of butterflies but also a powerful weapon to drive away enemies.

In red rose petals have cyanide, a bitter taste.Photo: BBC.

Biologists believe that colorful colors help flowers attract the attention of insects, mammals and birds, which play an important role in pollination. But some naturalists from Plymouth University, University of Portsmouth (England) and Curtin University (Australia) discovered that the wings of red roses contain cyanide with quite a large content.

Plants use cyanide to scare off herbivores. Because roses need only birds and insects during pollination activities, the expert team identified cyanide to help flowers prevent the attack of herbivores. Thus, biologists need to reconsider the evolution of flowers.

Dr. Mick Hanley, a member of the research team, said that the existence of cyanide makes red flowers taste bitter. So when you see red, herbivores think of bitterness. 'Red is a warning sign for herbivores like kangaroos, parrots and birds. It makes them understand that red flowers contain toxic compounds, ' Hanley added.

Roses are considered a symbol of love. However, this is also a precious flower for human health because their wings contain most of the essential minerals. Roses help strengthen the health of the endocrine glands, fight skin diseases, limit festering wounds, strengthen the immune system, protect the digestive tract, prevent bacteria, treat stomach ulcers and prevent tangles. neurosis.