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For The Lorax

Posted on: November 18, 2008 9:30 PM, by Greg Laden

You do know that it works like this:

Fungus and animals are sister taxa to the exclusion of plants.

This might make the following less scary. Or more scary.

Hat tip: The Lorax. The Lorax is here:

http://angrybychoice.blogspot.com/

(Warning, that site will make noise when you open it.)

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Comments

Nature is awesome. How can you not love it?

Transfer the fungus to humans and that would be a pretty good sci-fi/horror story. And please, let's hope it would remain only a story. Heebie-jeebies!

Posted by: Stephen Moore | November 18, 2008 10:00 PM

Not good to watch over breakfast! Wharf!

Posted by: Jackal | November 19, 2008 8:28 AM

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk! He said "Murshooms."

Posted by: Virgil Samms | November 19, 2008 9:04 AM

Thanks for the props Greg. I teach my students that fungi are genetically more similar to animals than plants, and then ask why mycology is still the bastion of botany depts. Regardless, I have wondered if the music is annoying or otherwise problematic. Mostly it is there for my benefit, but I wonder if I should remove it....

Posted by: Lorax | November 19, 2008 7:54 PM

OK. They're our brethren. But the scariest quote (Attenborough, n'est pa?) is "The more numerous a species becomes, the more likely it will be attacked by its Nemesis...".

We're pretty numerous.

Posted by: uncle noel | November 19, 2008 8:04 PM

Well, fugni should always be studied in the fungus department!

Music that turns itself on is always bad. Even when it is good.

Posted by: Greg Laden | November 19, 2008 8:51 PM

In my neck of the woods (VT), every fall a different species of caterpillar gets slaughtered by these kinds of fungus. The fungus somehow makes the caterpillar climb high up (on plants, walls, railings) and then wither to a dry hard husk. Then a grey mold springs out(to spread spores?) They look freakin horrible. But its always a different species, and it seems to relate to population blooms.

Posted by: Mr.Mom | November 20, 2008 9:47 AM

Alright, the site doesnt make noise anymore :P

Posted by: Lorax | November 20, 2008 11:11 AM