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Quote from: Robin Jangle on December 03, 2024, 08:55:16 AMHumans have a capsaicin receptor known as the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor:

That's why it burns

If you check things out, the primary function of TRPV1 is heat/pain detection. I would suggest that happened/evolved a LOOOOOONG while before humans found capsaisin.

I recall the discovery being published in New Scientist, a very long time ago. It was especially interesting in that the heat of capsaisin is experienced as if it was actual, physical heat.

Humans have a capsaicin receptor known as the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor:

That's why it burns

Robin

thanks for the correction.

I had suspected it was erroneously named.

Quote from: Robin Jangle on December 02, 2024, 11:10:10 PMBirds do not have receptors for capsaicin. Capsicum is distributed by mostly frugivorous birds although opportunists are definitely involved as well.
The seeds of Capsicum are not able to withstand chewing, hence Capsaicin being irritant to mammals - to the point that you will vomit if you consume large quantities thereof.

Humans have no receptor for capsaicin either, as such - the same recptors as detect physical heat also react to capsaicin.

Many, many people become tolerant of capsaicin too. Many moons ago I would eat at an Asian restaurant at least once a week, and often twice, and what I ordered changed over time, although I prefer the actual flavour of chilli to massive heat. There are also lots of chilli eating contests, principally in the US.

Quote from: CG100 on December 02, 2024, 08:11:16 AM

Quote from: Arnold on December 02, 2024, 06:00:40 AMIt's always been a mystery to me how some plant material is toxic to one species and innocuous to other.

Mostly it is just a quirk of genetics, what a digestive, or other system, has evolved with.

Humans are one of the very few animals that can safely eat avocado.
A common wormer for dogs - avamectin, a secretion of some moulds - is toxic to a few breeds (such as dalmatians) as they lack a particular enzyme.
Some protective chemicals in plants are enjoyed by some animals - the characteritic flavours in brassicas are insect repellants.
No snake really wants to kill a human, but unluckily for us, many can hit you with a bite that delivers enough toxins to kill you many times over.
Many caucasians retain an ability to digest lactose into adulthood, but very many races do not - dairy food are not popular in the Far East, and elsewhere.
My father was untroubled by stinging nettles (something that I did not inherit, unfortunately).
Capsaicin is loved by many humans, and you can certainly become progressively immune to it to some degree. It has no effect on many, if not all, birds.

Birds do not have receptors for capsaicin. Capsicum is distributed by mostly frugivorous birds although opportunists are definitely involved as well.
The seeds of Capsicum are not able to withstand chewing, hence Capsaicin being irritant to mammals - to the point that you will vomit if you consume large quantities thereof.

Off the bat: Gethyllis ciliaris subsp longituba, although a named entity, is not a discrete taxon. The length of the tube is influenced by environmental conditions and is not genetic. We have found that the tube length varies from the size and vigour of the bulb to the light and cannot be correlated to any pollinator either.

Having said all that: your plant is Gethyllis villosa. Gethyllis ciliaris has glabrous leaves with a ciliate margin.

Quote from: CG100 on December 01, 2024, 11:50:51 PMLike most plants with contorted leaves in habitat, that is enhanced by exposure to sun.

My T. t. came into growth in August with tightly folded leaves but growth over the past month or more has been straight.

...pictures ?

Gethyllis villosa.

Quote from: Arnold on December 02, 2024, 06:00:40 AMIt's always been a mystery to me how some plant material is toxic to one species and innocuous to other.

Mostly it is just a quirk of genetics, what a digestive, or other system, has evolved with.

Humans are one of the very few animals that can safely eat avocado.
A common wormer for dogs - avamectin, a secretion of some moulds - is toxic to a few breeds (such as dalmatians) as they lack a particular enzyme.
Some protective chemicals in plants are enjoyed by some animals - the characteritic flavours in brassicas are insect repellants.
No snake really wants to kill a human, but unluckily for us, many can hit you with a bite that delivers enough toxins to kill you many times over.
Many caucasians retain an ability to digest lactose into adulthood, but very many races do not - dairy food are not popular in the Far East, and elsewhere.
My father was untroubled by stinging nettles (something that I did not inherit, unfortunately).
Capsaicin is loved by many humans, and you can certainly become progressively immune to it to some degree. It has no effect on many, if not all, birds.

Quote from: Arnold on December 02, 2024, 06:00:40 AMpoison ivy which creates a serious rash in humans

FWIW: Not all humans are allergic to the urushiol in poison ivy. I'm one of the fortunate ones.