Transforming "Spiritual Warfare": Day 11 (South Dakota)

"Cumulus Clouds Over Yellow Prairie" photo thanks to WikiCommons.

After Wednesday's orgy of Agarical fun, I needed a nice, sober, stalwart fungus for South Dakota's defensive team. Yesterday we fought fire with fire, sort of. The folks who are so hell-bent on their flaming intercession have been stoking their piety pyres, so I reached out to an ancient fire-keeper: Fomes fomentarius, the official fire-starter of the 5,000 year old Ötzi the Iceman. Also known as the Tinder Fungus, Hoof Fungus, Tinder Conk, Tinder Polypore, Punk, Touchwood & Ice Man Fungus, this understated polypore has played many roles in ancient & modern cultures around the world. Most relevant to this project are its fire-based uses; it makes a good fuse for rifles & a great punkwood for quick ignition. Feisty, no? Here's the bonus-boon: it has the additional benefit of being useful for banishing evil spirits when burned!

There's a whole bunch of angles that these fungal representatives can take. In accordance with my original plan, they are saprophytic, but before that, they live as parasites! Add some fire power & talents in the banishing department & in the words of my Uncle Sam, (no really, that is his name, conveniently apropos, isn't it?) "Hot damn!" This makes for many possibilities... the manner of execution I will leave up to them.

Tinder polypore, Fomes fomentarius

by fire's tongue,
a foothold gain,
defend our rights,
protect the sane!

by autumn's light,
rot the blight!
Fomentarius!
Make it right!