Why are there no real-life triffids?

# Biology

# Evolution

# John Wyndham

# Plants

# Science fiction books

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific concepts

Given the way evolution happened, starting with the very simplest form of plant life, why is there a rigid split between animals and plant life, with no sort of halfway house as in, say, John Wyndham’s (fictional) The Day of the Triffids?

Peter Hanson, Exeter

• Post your answers – and new questions – below or email them to nq@theguardian.com. Please include name, address and phone number.

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