Birdflower, Green (Crotalaria cunninghamii)

NATIVE RANGE:

Arid and semi-arid zones in Australia

DESCRIPTION:

Perennial shrub 3 - 10 feet in height with woolly branches, oval leaves, and bird shaped flowers.

---

Why Does the Flower Look Like a Hummingbird?

Debate over the appearance of this flower has produced a few theories, but in the end, its similarity to a hummingbird is probably just a coincidence. Some think their appearance is a form of Batesian Mimicry - in which a harmless species protects itself by copying a dangerous one. Others think it’s a form of simulacrum - a psychological trick where we see superficial likeness, like how we can see a face in a tree trunk or a piece of toast.

In reality though, it’s probably just a coincidence. The flower follows the typical structure of flowers in the legume family, its petals just happen to be the proportions to look like a bird. Further evidence that it is a coincidence lies in the fact that there are no hummingbirds in Australia, so what could it have evolved to mimic?

For more examples of plants that look like animals search for photos of the Monkey Orchid (Dracula simia) or the White Egret Flower (Pecteilis radiata).