Quang Nam: A lifeless rock suddenly 'blossoms', an expert says with one sentence: spray glue?

A rock on the river in Tien Phuoc district, Quang Nam suddenly turned bright red, people compared it to a "blooming rock", causing many curious people to come and see.

In March 2024, people in village 2, Tien An commune, Tien Phuoc district, Quang Nam province were extremely surprised to discover a large rock emerging in the middle of the Tram river suddenly appearing a bright red patch. This strange phenomenon made many people curious, coming to admire, likening the rock to "blooming flowers".

According to observations, the red layer appeared on the rock in the form of a soft, moss-like patch, nearly 1 meter long and about 30cm wide, right next to the edge of the rock adjacent to the water surface. According to local people, this red patch appeared on the rock more than half a month ago, on the occasion of the Giap Thin New Year.

At first it was just a small yellow patch, but over the next few days it turned bright red and then gradually faded. When touching the rock, it felt like a soft, smooth carpet of moss. At first, it was just a small yellow patch, but over time, it gradually turned bright red and then gradually faded. When people touched the rock, they felt the surface was smooth and soft, like a thin layer of moss.

Locals said this was not the first time this phenomenon had occurred. About 6-7 years ago, a similar red patch had appeared on this very rock. Some people said that this phenomenon occurs in cycles, usually about 5-7 years or longer before it recurs.

The appearance of the "stone flower" immediately attracted attention on social networks when the image was posted, causing many people from all over to flock to take photos and check-in, witnessing this rare sight with their own eyes.

Mr. Phan Hong Phat, Chairman of Tien An Commune People's Committee, also went to the scene to check this strange phenomenon. He said that in 2018, this rock also had a similar red patch. According to experts and scientists, this is actually a form of lichen - a symbiosis between fungi and algae - growing on the rock, not a "blooming rock" phenomenon as folklore has it.

According to Mr. Phat, when he came to check, the newly appeared lichen layer was yellow, the size of a hand, and had a red border. Just a few days later, this lichen layer spread out and turned into a striking dark red color. He also added that the Tram River area has a beautiful landscape with suspension bridges, rivers, streams, and many large and small rocks. Therefore, this phenomenon of "stone flowers" blooming bright red attracts more and more people and tourists to visit and take pictures.

The strange "stone flower" phenomenon has brought much curiosity and excitement to local people as well as tourists, contributing to highlighting the landscape of the Tram River.

Lichens growing on rocks can release chemicals that speed up the breakdown of rocks into soil and thus promote new soil production. Additionally, lichens will grow almost anywhere that has a stable, well-lit surface. This could be soil, rocks, or even the sides of trees. Lichens can absorb some mineral nutrients from whatever substrate they grow on, but are generally self-sufficient through photosynthesis in their algal cells. Therefore, lichens growing on trees are not parasites of the tree and do not eat the tree, just as you would not eat the chair you sit on. Lichens growing on trees are simply using the tree as a home. However, lichens growing on rocks can release chemicals that speed up the breakdown of rocks into soil and thus promote new soil production.

Most lichens are temperate or arctic, although there are many tropical and desert species. Lichens seem to thrive in drier environments, where they are not frequently left in standing water. However, what lichens consider dry may not be what we consider dry. In cool marshes and tropical rainforests, large lichens known as “old man’s beard” can often be seen hanging from tree branches. Although there is plenty of water in these habitats, the unsaturated air and dry winds can dry out the tree-dwelling organisms.

Lichens are known to be hardy creatures that can survive in scorching deserts and frozen tundra. However, the secret to their success is not well understood. Two key features are thought to be important: their ability to survive desiccation and their complex chemical composition.

Lichens can dry out completely when there is no moisture. This is not just dehydration as we are familiar with in plants and animals, but complete dehydration of the body, which makes the lichen quite brittle. When moisture is restored, they quickly reabsorb water, becoming soft and fleshy again. Only a few insects feed on lichens, some moths and beetles among them.

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