Plant-defense Memes

Plants spent millions of years evolving chemical warfare, physical barriers, and elaborate defense mechanisms to avoid being eaten. Then they just... gave up and accepted their fate as salad. Herbivores show up with their specialized digestive systems, and plants are like "yeah okay, you got me." Meanwhile they're still on fire from all those defenses that ultimately accomplish nothing except making herbivores slightly more determined. Evolution's greatest participation trophy goes to plant defense systems that work about as well as a "please don't eat me" sign.