Triffid – Triffidus celestus

Triffidus celestus, or Triffid, is an ambulatory, highly venomous carnivorous plant with unknown origins (see: ‘History Of’ below) that can grow to an average height of 7 feet (2.1 m) but has been sighted at heights exceeding 10 feet (3 m).

A firm stalk, or stem, with sprays of leathery green leaves and three accompanying small sticks will grow up from a woody bole in the ground. Beneath the surface of the soil, the bole is slightly shaggy with little rootlet hairs. The stalk will be topped with a funnel-like formation [cup] with a tightly wrapped whorl within like, “the new, close-rolled frond of a fern, emerging a couple of inches from a sticky mess in the base of the cup” (Wyndham, 21). Small insects have been observed caught in the sticky interior of the funnel-like formation. (see: ‘Unique biology: Stinger & Venom’).

Once large enough, Triffids will push themselves from the ground and “walk” with the use of three bluntly tapered projections underneath the bole. The two foremost projections or “legs” will slide forward, then the whole plant will lurch forward, whipping its stalk forth and then back again as the rear “leg” pulls itself up toward the two forelegs. This is accomplished so that a Triffid can walk at about the same speed as a human’s average walking speed, or roughly 3 miles per hour. Triffids walking were first observed in Indochina, followed quickly by sightings throughout the world.