Australian Science Teacher, Jacob Strickling has observed an apparent link between the size of a mutant triffid like plant and its proximity to power lines. It seems the closer they grow to the lines, the higher the flower spike reaches. In some instances the flower spike can reach over 10 metres high!
The Triffid is a fictitious, tall, mobile plant made famous by the author John Wyndham in the novel ‘The Day of The Triffids’. In the story the triffids are able to move about and with a whip like, poisonous flagellum are able to attack humans.
The plants, known as Giant Lilies or Gymea Lilies, were observed near Mr Strickling’s hometown Sydney, Australia. Mr Strickling suspects that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the alternating current in the lines may be stimulating the rapid growth of the plants.

All over Australia, there are Aboriginal Dreaming stories linking people to plants and the Giant Lily - there's a local Dreaming story that tells how the creation of those beautiful red blooms came to be, and it's about a tribe who were trapped in a cave after a landslide. One warrior survived, although with bad injuries. He came back and forth, sustaining the other members with food and with water. His injuries were such that he started to slowly die and as he did, the blood seeped into the plant causing the flowers to turn red. In his final gasps, he thrusts his hand high into the air.

The shoots and the roots were eaten and the foliage, which can grow up to a couple of metres round, was a tough, durable fibre used for weaving. The flowers themselves produce a beautiful big cluster full of nectar, attracting birds and insects and they can grow up to 10 metres tall.

Music Credits:
"Simplex" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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