Zoologists pull their hair when lay people say smothering along the lines: “The pitcher plant evolved purple and brown colouration, and a rotting odour to reassemble rotting meat in order to attract insects.” The problem is language improperly implies conscious planning and cunning. To say that same thing accurately takes several extra sentences. We need new vocabulary to say this both accurately and concisely, suitable for lay use. Perhaps something like: “The pitcher plant evolved purple and brown colouration, and a rotting odour to reassemble rotting meat, driven by attracting insects.” where driven gets a precise evolutionary context definition.
~ Roedy (born: 1948-02-04 age: 64)