The marcgravia evenia, a plant native to Cuba, has bowl-shaped leaves that act as a satellite dish to reflect sound waves emitted by bats. They also enable the plants’ pollinators — the Cuban nectarfeeding bats — to locate the plant easily amidst the surrounding foliage.
Researchers believe that the plant has developed the bowl-shaped leaves in addition to its regular leaves because the curved shape reflects sound waves more efficiently.
Even though many plant species are pollinated by bats, this is the first instance of a plant evolving special leaves to aid echolocation of bats.