Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not?

Eric Frei · 19th April 2009, 06:16 PM

If you haven't read the news or know about this watch this video.

YouTube - Fir tree found in lung

And here's the flip side of the story where they says it's BS.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Technol...502680,00.html

Quote:

Tree in lung 'too good to be true'
17/04/2009 08:18 - (SA)

# Docs find fir tree in man's lung

Elsabé Brits, Die Burger

Cape Town - Did your granny also warn you not to swallow pips, because a little tree would grow in your tummy (or lung)?

A Russian made the news far and wide, after it was alleged that there's a "little pine tree" in his lung, after he apparently "inhaled a seed or a blossom which sprouted and started to grow in his lung".

However, this story is a tad hard to swallow, since plant material can't grow inside a human body.

Both Professor Tony Linegar, cardio-thoracic surgeon at the Free State University, and Professor Gillian Ainslie, a pulmonologist at Cape Town University, say it is possible for growths with the appearance of a ball of hair and teeth to grow inside a human body, but not plants.

Professor Chris Bolliger, pulmonologist at Stellenbosch University, said the X-ray picture which was shown and the tissue sample containing the "little tree" don't match up.

He and Linegar say that plants can't show up on X-rays as more dense than bone.

It would also be impossible for the "little tree" to germinate inside a lung. "Seeds and plants don't grow inside people, the medium isn't right for that."

It is possible that the man could have inhaled a twig (which would have been lodged in his airway if he didn't cough it out), but according to the X-ray it's far too deep. "I'm very sceptical," Bolliger said.

Ainsley said: "Something like this would definitely be mentioned in medical literature, and it simply isn't there. The green pine needles in the picture bother me, since there is no sunlight in the lungs. I'm sceptical."

According to Linegar, the man's body would have formed a casing around the seed, had it indeed been inhaled, but even this is highly unlikely, since the seed would be too big to pass through the airway into the lungs.

"The growth of plant material in humans hasn't been documented anywhere in the academic literature. I think it's nonsense, until someone comes to me with very convincing proof," Linegar said.

- Die Burger

funarty · 20th April 2009, 02:55 AM

Well it is warm dark and moist in there ,don't seeds like those conditions??? One determined tree!

Therrin · 20th April 2009, 11:46 AM

Huh, I always thought they needed sunlight too.

funarty · 20th April 2009, 12:24 PM

Well there is no sunlight under the soil where they germinate!

Therrin · 20th April 2009, 01:53 PM

under the SOIL... yes, where they get their nutrients.

But they still need sunlight in order to grow after sprouting don't they? Uhh huh.

spartek · 20th April 2009, 03:13 PM

Sounds like an ideal enviroment for mushrooms

Eric Frei · 20th April 2009, 05:51 PM

I keep thinking, what do the Russians have to gain with a BS story? Just for the kicks perhaps.

Plant seeds too deep and they dont grow!

funarty · 20th April 2009, 10:18 PM

yer !

Jeff Darby · 27th April 2009, 06:51 PM

This reminds me of Dave Manns paintings in Easyrider mags, does anyone remember the one with a seedling growing out of this blokes belly button?..Made me laught, a long time ago before it was expressed..lol..or rofl.

Tom Forrest · 27th April 2009, 06:57 PM

A couple of issues with this story; firstly it may be possible for a seed to germinate in these conditions, although the humidity in the lungs is probably a little too high. Secondly, if the seed did sprout, you would not achieve basic green leaf structure without the sunlight, plus the lungs aren't particularly nutrient rich for plant growth (wrong type of nutrients), and as for the fibrous root structure...yeah right.

It is sad the Russians have to give such a BS story just so the world takes notice.

kieren · 30th April 2009, 09:12 PM

did you see on the footage inside the so called lung there was an insect maybe a fly hovering around the lung. sounds like a good load of crap to me.

Bruce Hopf · 30th April 2009, 09:37 PM

Maybe he lives close to close to Chernobyl Reactor that blew up a number of years ago, and a Tree wanted to live in that area, but couldn't because of all the Ground Contamination.

Bruce.

View Poll Results: Do you think this story is fake?
Yes it's fake, no way did a tree grow inside that Russian man's lung	12	100.00%
No it's true and possible for trees to grow inside a human lung	0	0%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll

20th April 2009, 02:55 AM	#2
funarty Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: townsville Q.L.D. Australia Posts: 315	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? Well it is warm dark and moist in there ,don't seeds like those conditions??? One determined tree! __________________ COOL TREES=COOL PLANET

20th April 2009, 11:46 AM	#3
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,497	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? Huh, I always thought they needed sunlight too.

20th April 2009, 12:24 PM	#4
funarty Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: townsville Q.L.D. Australia Posts: 315	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? Well there is no sunlight under the soil where they germinate! __________________ COOL TREES=COOL PLANET

20th April 2009, 01:53 PM	#5
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,497	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? under the SOIL... yes, where they get their nutrients. But they still need sunlight in order to grow after sprouting don't they? Uhh huh.

20th April 2009, 03:13 PM	#6
spartek Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: ohio, USA Posts: 151	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? Sounds like an ideal enviroment for mushrooms

20th April 2009, 05:51 PM	#7
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? I keep thinking, what do the Russians have to gain with a BS story? Just for the kicks perhaps. Plant seeds too deep and they dont grow! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

20th April 2009, 10:18 PM	#8
funarty Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: townsville Q.L.D. Australia Posts: 315	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? yer ! __________________ COOL TREES=COOL PLANET

27th April 2009, 06:51 PM	#9
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? This reminds me of Dave Manns paintings in Easyrider mags, does anyone remember the one with a seedling growing out of this blokes belly button?..Made me laught, a long time ago before it was expressed..lol..or rofl. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

27th April 2009, 06:57 PM	#10
Tom Forrest Sappling Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mt Macedon, Vic Posts: 42	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? A couple of issues with this story; firstly it may be possible for a seed to germinate in these conditions, although the humidity in the lungs is probably a little too high. Secondly, if the seed did sprout, you would not achieve basic green leaf structure without the sunlight, plus the lungs aren't particularly nutrient rich for plant growth (wrong type of nutrients), and as for the fibrous root structure...yeah right. It is sad the Russians have to give such a BS story just so the world takes notice.

30th April 2009, 09:12 PM	#11
kieren Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Adelaide Posts: 104	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? did you see on the footage inside the so called lung there was an insect maybe a fly hovering around the lung. sounds like a good load of crap to me.

30th April 2009, 09:37 PM	#12
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,167	Re: Fir Tree grows in lung of man - BS or not? Maybe he lives close to close to Chernobyl Reactor that blew up a number of years ago, and a Tree wanted to live in that area, but couldn't because of all the Ground Contamination. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

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