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Chemical Warfare: Iain Stewart vs Habanero Chilli - How to Grow a Planet - Episode 1 - BBC Two More about this programme: www.bbc.co.uk When dinosaurs evolved they posed a threat to the plant kingdom. They were the biggest herbivores ever to live on land and many of them travelled in groups, stripping plants of their leaves. In response to herbivory, plants developed defences, the most obvious being thorns and spikes. They then went on to evolve chemical weapons, in the form of foul tasting chemicals and toxins. Chillis contain a chemical called capsaicin, which is essentially a toxin. From: BBC Views: 608 14 ratings Time: 01:58 More in Science & Technology