These plants remind me of the Cheshires from the book "The Windup Girl". Despite being scientifically impossible, the Cheshires illustrate unforeseen consequences very well. They are genetically engineered cats that can blend exceptionally well into their surroundings, like an octopus. They were made as party favours for an young girl's birthday party, but escaped and out-bred/out-hunted domestic cats to become dominant across the world.
There's a great critique of the lack of scientific rigour in Paolo Bacigalupi's novel, well worth a read if you like poor science being excoriated:
There's a great critique of the lack of scientific rigour in Paolo Bacigalupi's novel, well worth a read if you like poor science being excoriated:
https://www.nyrsf.com/2015/10/eric-schaller-the-problem-with...