Animals can move from place to place, but plants cannot. When an animal is under attack, it can run away or fight back. Plants certainly cannot run away, and they have no teeth or claws. But plants can protect themselves in both physical and chemical ways.

    Some plants have their own ways to keep animals away. For example, the leaves of the holly(冬青) have sharp prickles(刺) that discourage grass-eating animals. Holly leaves on lower places have more prickles than leaves on upper places. This is because the lower leaves are easier for most animals to reach. Some plants, such as the oak trees(橡树), have thick and hard leaves that are difficult for animals to eat. Some grasses may contain a sandy material, and eating such grasses wears down the animals' teeth. Many plants also have chemical defenses. Some plants produce chemicals that taste bitter(苦) or cause an unpleasant reaction. Some plants may fight against an attack by increasing the production of these chemicals. When a worm bites a tobacco leaf (烟叶), the leaf produces a chemical smell. Many plants depend on both physical and chemical defenses. A certain plant in China, for instance, has prickly leaves, and each prickle has poisonous water(毒液). Only one experience with this kind of plant will teach an animal to stay away from it in the future.