#§†=~,,,,, ,,,,,~=†§#
##§†=~,,,, ,,,,~=†§##
###§†=~,,, ,,,~=†§###
####§†=~,, ,,~=†§####
###§†=~,,, ,,,~=†§###
##§†=~,,,, ~~~~~~~~~~~ ,,,,~=†§##
#§†=~,,,,, †† †† ,,,,,~=†§#
§†=~,,,,,, = blue fire = ,,,,,,~=†§
†=~,,,,,,, †† †† ,,,,,,,~=†
§†=~,,,,,, ~~~~~~~~~~~ ,,,,,,~=†§
#§†=~,,,,, ,,,,,~=†§#
##§†=~,,,, the ,blue fire, is a carnivorous plant ,,,,~=†§##
###§†=~,,, living mostly at the western alvar (but ,,,~=†§###
####§†=~,, it has spread to a few other places, ,,~=†§####
###§†=~,,, mostly rocky coasts). ,,,~=†§###
##§†=~,,,, ,,,,~=†§##
#§†=~,,,,, the plant is a dense network of ,,,,,~=†§#
§†=~,,,,,, green-brown tentacle-like roots, which ,,,,,,~=†§
†=~,,,,,,, is often called "rat's tail" before ,,,,,,,~=†
§†=~,,,,,, blooming. in late june, it quickly ,,,,,,~=†§
#§†=~,,,,, sprouts feelers, ten to thirty ,,,,,~=†§#
##§†=~,,,, centimeters high, filled with purple ,,,,~=†§##
###§†=~,,, hairs - this is the blue fire. this ,,,~=†§###
####§†=~,, stage lasts for one or two weeks, ,,~=†§####
###§†=~,,, depending on food access, water, ,,,~=†§###
##§†=~,,,, climate. ,,,,~=†§##
#§†=~,,,,, ,,,,,~=†§#
§†=~,,,,,, often it's not clear how far the plant ,,,,,,~=†§
†=~,,,,,,, has spread unless its in the fire ,,,,,,,~=†
§†=~,,,,,, stage. suddenly, as if overnight, whole ,,,,,,~=†§
#§†=~,,,,, fields can be turned ablaze (with the ,,,,,~=†§#
##§†=~,,,, same individual plant, as well)! in the ,,,,~=†§##
###§†=~,,, blooming peak, it's not unusual for the ,,,~=†§###
####§†=~,, whole alvar to be connected north-south. ,,~=†§####
###§†=~,,, ,,,~=†§###
##§†=~,,,, =††~~~~~††= ,,,,~=†§##
#§†=~,,,,, ,,,,,~=†§#
§†=~,,,,,, fifty weeks of the year, while in rat ,,,,,,~=†§
†=~,,,,,,, stage, the blue fire feeds on the stone ,,,,,,,~=†
§†=~,,,,,, itself via a slow chemical attrition. ,,,,,,~=†§
#§†=~,,,,, this is enough to keep the roots alive, ,,,,,~=†§#
##§†=~,,,, but all growth and procreation must ,,,,~=†§##
###§†=~,,, happen during the two weeks in june. ,,,~=†§###
####§†=~,, ,,~=†§####
###§†=~,,, now the plant feeds on birds; the ,,,~=†§###
##§†=~,,,, semistiff upright feelers looks like an ,,,,~=†§##
#§†=~,,,,, extension of the sea, and birds are ,,,,,~=†§#
§†=~,,,,,, tricked into landing or diving into it. ,,,,,,~=†§
†=~,,,,,,, they are quickly paralyzed by the ,,,,,,,~=†
§†=~,,,,,, poison on the purple hairs, and ,,,,,,~=†§
#§†=~,,,,, devoured over a period of hours. ,,,,,~=†§#
##§†=~,,,, ,,,,~=†§##
###§†=~,,, procreation can happen sexually via ,,,~=†§###
####§†=~,, spores (cryptogamia) or asexually when ,,~=†§####
###§†=~,,, the roots are cut, dividing an ,,,~=†§###
##§†=~,,,, individual into two. ,,,,~=†§##
#§†=~,,,,, ,,,,,~=†§#
§†=~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~=†§
†=~,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,~=†
§†=~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~=†§
#§†=~,,,,, ,,,,,~=†§#