Red weed
Encyclopedia
The red weed is a fictional plant native to Mars
in the novel The War of the Worlds
by H. G. Wells
. It is this plant that supposedly gives Mars its dull red colour. It is one of the several types of plants brought to Earth
possibly accidentally by the invading Martians
, but the only one that truly was able to adapt and grow widespread on Earth. When it is exposed to water, it grows and reproduces explosively, flooding the neighboring countryside as it clogs streams and rivers. The narrator mentions near the end of "The Man on Putney Hill" that the weed glows purple at night. He tries eating some, but it has a metallic taste. Though it engulfed the native plant life of Earth it also succumbed to the effects of Earth bacteria
.
Wells' earlier short story, "The Crystal Egg
", features a "dense, red weed" seen on Mars that also grows heavily on water, in this case a Martian canal.
As the book has been interpreted as criticism of imperialism
, the red weed could symbolize the non-native fauna colonizers introduced to the Americas
, Australia
, New Zealand
and other countries. In many cases, these introduced species overwhelmed the native fauna, especially in remote islands. More fancifully, the red weed could be seen as a metaphor for territorial expansion (the British Empire being traditionally colored pink or red on maps).
Wells may have been influenced by the theories of Camille Flammarion
, who in 1873 claimed that Mars was red due to red vegetation growing on it.
, and is absent from the 1953 film
; however its absence fits in with the retcon
established for the TV series follow-up
in which the aliens originate from Mor-Tax
, a garden planet. Therefore, their means of transforming the planet was actually to conserve and promote Earth's own vegetation.
In Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
, the red weed is given a two-part song, with eerie music to signify its slow and threatening growth over the Earth
. In the live tour, CGI footage of the red weed portrayed it as a mossy creeper that grew much faster than Wells' original account.
In Steven Spielberg
's 2005 War of the Worlds
film, the presence of the red weed on Earth is clearly intentional. Once they have a strong hold of the planet, the invaders take captured humans and drain their bodily fluids, which act as a fertilizer for the red weed, helping it grow and cover the planet. Though it is never stated these invaders come from Mars (the "Red Planet"), the script indicates the weed is abundantly present on their world as well, suggesting the two share a superficial resemblance. However, what exactly makes up their red weed, whether it is a natural vegetation or what gives it its color on their world, is unknown; though it is believed by a character in the movie the aliens fertilise the weed with human blood, possibly adding to its redness. In one scene, the Tripods used their tentacles to dig fiercely at the ground, which could have been when and how they planted the red weed. It grows so quickly it can be seen growing, and it can grow on just about anything. It is also stated in the script the weed is fierce enough to flourish in spite of the conditions that forced the aliens to find refuge on a new world. But despite its tenacity to survive such a harsh environment, much like in the novel, the red weed is killed by Earth's bacteria and turned into an ash-like dust and is blown away in the wind before it can be examined.
The red weed is also depicted in the Timothy Hines
film H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds
, which is a direct adaptation of the novel. However, it is not featured in any detail, and its presence is nothing more than as a part of the background. In fact, the term "red weed" is said only once throughout the film.
The weed doesn't appear in the modernised, 2005 Asylum
film H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
(also entitled Invasion), but later scenes in the film show a reddish-orange colour scheme, possibly used to adapt the red weed into a more realistic aspect and to resemble the colour of Mars to symbolise the aliens' control over mankind. It is confirmed that no such weed exists by Mars Rover
recordings during the opening title sequence, and the surface of the planet seen on the sequel War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
.
It is also present in the PC game of The War of the Worlds
, where it replaces the trees if more Martian buildings and defenses are built in that sector.
In Alan Moore
and Kevin O'Neill
's comic book series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II
, which deals with the effects of the Martian invasion within a wider fictional context, the red weed is deliberately employed by the Martians as an anti-shipping weapon, in order to prevent Captain Nemo
's submarine, the Nautilus
, from providing effective resistance to the Martian invasion, after the Invisible Man warns them of the Nautilus.
In the comic sequel to the story, Scarlet Traces
, the red weed has been farmed because its oil is the only thing that can lubricate the adapted Martian technology. As one character points out, this suggests that the Martians brought it to Earth on purpose.
On a side note, the red weed was mentioned in a scene during Scary Movie 4
when a character made the line, "How about all this red weed?" after which his companion coughed out a puff of red smoke.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
in the novel The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds is an 1898 science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells.The War of the Worlds may also refer to:- Radio broadcasts :* The War of the Worlds , the 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Welles...
by H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
. It is this plant that supposedly gives Mars its dull red colour. It is one of the several types of plants brought to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
possibly accidentally by the invading Martians
Martian (War of the Worlds)
The Martians, also known as the Invaders, are the fictional race of extraterrestrials from the H.G. Wells novel The War of the Worlds. They are the antagonists of the novel, and their efforts to exterminate the populace of Earth and claim the planet for themselves drive the plot and present...
, but the only one that truly was able to adapt and grow widespread on Earth. When it is exposed to water, it grows and reproduces explosively, flooding the neighboring countryside as it clogs streams and rivers. The narrator mentions near the end of "The Man on Putney Hill" that the weed glows purple at night. He tries eating some, but it has a metallic taste. Though it engulfed the native plant life of Earth it also succumbed to the effects of Earth bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
.
Wells' earlier short story, "The Crystal Egg
The Crystal Egg
"The Crystal Egg" is a science fiction short story written by H. G. Wells in 1897.The story tells of a shop owner, named Mr. Cave, who finds a strange crystal egg that serves as a window into the planet Mars....
", features a "dense, red weed" seen on Mars that also grows heavily on water, in this case a Martian canal.
As the book has been interpreted as criticism of imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
, the red weed could symbolize the non-native fauna colonizers introduced to the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and other countries. In many cases, these introduced species overwhelmed the native fauna, especially in remote islands. More fancifully, the red weed could be seen as a metaphor for territorial expansion (the British Empire being traditionally colored pink or red on maps).
Wells may have been influenced by the theories of Camille Flammarion
Camille Flammarion
Nicolas Camille Flammarion was a French astronomer and author. He was a prolific author of more than fifty titles, including popular science works about astronomy, several notable early science fiction novels, and several works about Spiritism and related topics. He also published the magazine...
, who in 1873 claimed that Mars was red due to red vegetation growing on it.
In other adaptations
The red weed is not mentioned at all in the radio adaptationThe War of the Worlds (radio)
The War of the Worlds was an episode of the American radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was performed as a Halloween episode of the series on October 30, 1938, and aired over the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network. Directed and narrated by actor and future filmmaker...
, and is absent from the 1953 film
The War of the Worlds (1953 film)
The War of the Worlds is a 1953 science fiction film starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. It was the first on-screen loose adaptation of the H. G. Wells classic novel of the same name...
; however its absence fits in with the retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
established for the TV series follow-up
War of the Worlds (TV series)
War of the Worlds is a television program that ran for two seasons, from 1988 to 1990. The series is an extension of the original 1953 film The War of the Worlds, using the same War Machine, often incorporating aspects from the film, radio adaptation, and original novel into its mythology.Though...
in which the aliens originate from Mor-Tax
Mor-Tax
Mor-Tax is the name of the planet on which the aliens from the first season of the War of the Worlds TV series, the Mor-Taxans, originate. While the show's existence as a continuation from the 1953 film would make the aliens Martians, the first season rewrites this origin due to the supported fact...
, a garden planet. Therefore, their means of transforming the planet was actually to conserve and promote Earth's own vegetation.
In Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a 1978 concept album by Jeff Wayne, retelling the story of The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Its format is progressive rock and string orchestra, using narration and leitmotifs to carry the story via rhyming melodic lyrics that express...
, the red weed is given a two-part song, with eerie music to signify its slow and threatening growth over the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. In the live tour, CGI footage of the red weed portrayed it as a mossy creeper that grew much faster than Wells' original account.
In Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's 2005 War of the Worlds
War of the Worlds (2005 film)
War of the Worlds is a 2005 American science fiction film adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp. It is one of three film adaptations of War of the Worlds released that year, alongside The Asylum's version and...
film, the presence of the red weed on Earth is clearly intentional. Once they have a strong hold of the planet, the invaders take captured humans and drain their bodily fluids, which act as a fertilizer for the red weed, helping it grow and cover the planet. Though it is never stated these invaders come from Mars (the "Red Planet"), the script indicates the weed is abundantly present on their world as well, suggesting the two share a superficial resemblance. However, what exactly makes up their red weed, whether it is a natural vegetation or what gives it its color on their world, is unknown; though it is believed by a character in the movie the aliens fertilise the weed with human blood, possibly adding to its redness. In one scene, the Tripods used their tentacles to dig fiercely at the ground, which could have been when and how they planted the red weed. It grows so quickly it can be seen growing, and it can grow on just about anything. It is also stated in the script the weed is fierce enough to flourish in spite of the conditions that forced the aliens to find refuge on a new world. But despite its tenacity to survive such a harsh environment, much like in the novel, the red weed is killed by Earth's bacteria and turned into an ash-like dust and is blown away in the wind before it can be examined.
The red weed is also depicted in the Timothy Hines
Timothy Hines
Timothy Hines is an American film director, writer and producer. Best known for his adaptation of the H. G. Wells novel The War of the Worlds, he has a background in directing television commercials and short films. In 1999, he founded the independent film production company Pendragon Pictures...
film H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (2005 film)
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds is one of three film adaptations of H. G. Wells' classic novel released in 2005, about a Martian invasion of Earth...
, which is a direct adaptation of the novel. However, it is not featured in any detail, and its presence is nothing more than as a part of the background. In fact, the term "red weed" is said only once throughout the film.
The weed doesn't appear in the modernised, 2005 Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
film H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005 film)
H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds is a science fiction horror mockbuster by The Asylum. It is one of three 2005 film adaptations of H. G...
(also entitled Invasion), but later scenes in the film show a reddish-orange colour scheme, possibly used to adapt the red weed into a more realistic aspect and to resemble the colour of Mars to symbolise the aliens' control over mankind. It is confirmed that no such weed exists by Mars Rover
Mars Rover
A Mars rover is an automated motor vehicle which propels itself across the surface of the planet Mars after landing.Rovers have several advantages over stationary landers: they examine more territory, they can be directed to interesting features, they can place themselves in sunny positions to...
recordings during the opening title sequence, and the surface of the planet seen on the sequel War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave is a 2008 direct-to-DVD science fiction film starring and directed by C. Thomas Howell....
.
It is also present in the PC game of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds is a title used for two 1998 video games published by GT Interactive. The first is a real-time strategy game developed by Rage Software Limited for the PC...
, where it replaces the trees if more Martian buildings and defenses are built in that sector.
In Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
and Kevin O'Neill
Kevin O'Neill (comics)
Kevin O'Neill is an English comic book illustrator best known as the co-creator of Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law , and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .-Early career:...
's comic book series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II is a comic book limited series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill, published under the America's Best Comics imprint of DC Comics...
, which deals with the effects of the Martian invasion within a wider fictional context, the red weed is deliberately employed by the Martians as an anti-shipping weapon, in order to prevent Captain Nemo
Captain Nemo
Captain Nemo, also known as Prince Dakkar, is a fictional character featured in Jules Verne's novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island ....
's submarine, the Nautilus
Nautilus (Verne)
The Nautilus is the fictional submarine featured in Jules Verne's novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island . Verne named the Nautilus after Robert Fulton's real-life submarine Nautilus...
, from providing effective resistance to the Martian invasion, after the Invisible Man warns them of the Nautilus.
In the comic sequel to the story, Scarlet Traces
Scarlet Traces
Scarlet Traces is a comic story of the Steampunk genre, written by Ian Edginton and illustrated by D'Israeli. It was original published online before being serialised in 2002. A sequel, Scarlet Traces: The Great Game, followed in 2006....
, the red weed has been farmed because its oil is the only thing that can lubricate the adapted Martian technology. As one character points out, this suggests that the Martians brought it to Earth on purpose.
On a side note, the red weed was mentioned in a scene during Scary Movie 4
Scary Movie 4
Scary Movie 4 is the fourth film of the Scary Movie franchise, directed by David Zucker, written by Jim Abrahams, Craig Mazin and Pat Proft, and produced by Craig Mazin and Robert K. Weiss. It is distributed by The Weinstein Company via its Dimension Films unit in the U.S. and Television, and...
when a character made the line, "How about all this red weed?" after which his companion coughed out a puff of red smoke.