..##...##.                                          #....#.#..
.#.#..#.#.                                          #...##.#..
##.#.##.#.                                          #..#.#.#..
.#.#..#.#.                                          #.##.#.#.#
.#.#.##.#.                                          #..#.#.#.#
.#.#..#.#.               »»»»»»»»»»»                #.##.#.#.#
.#.#.##.#.             ^^           ^^              #..#.#.#.#
.#.#..#.#.             :   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.           #.##.#.#.#
.#.#.##.#.                                          #..#.#.#.#
.#.#..#.#.                                          #.##.#.#.#
.#.#.##.#.                                          #..#.#.#.#
.#.#..#.#.                                          #.##.#.#.#
.#.#.##.#.                                          #..#.#.#.#