The yam species Dioscorea melanophyma, which reproduces exclusively through cloning and does not produce seeds, has found an unusual way to disperse. Its glossy black bulbils (clone tubers) mimic local berries, attracting birds in search of food.
Deceived birds swallow the bulbils and transport them to a new location, acting as a kind of transport for the plant, which lacks conventional seed reproduction.
Scientists confirmed the presence of mimicry through modeling bird vision, showing that the bulbils are virtually indistinguishable from real fruits.
Birds respond most actively to the "fake" in October and February — during periods when natural berries are particularly scarce. Although the average dispersal distance is about 230 meters, this is a significant achievement for a clonal plant, as it is usually limited to the immediate surroundings.
The discovery demonstrates how evolution finds inventive workarounds to solve fundamental survival challenges.
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