# Holy \*\*\*\*! A TREE in his LUNG? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 20, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769 "2009-04-20T20:06:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769/21 "2009-04-22T13:22:07Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > No. Typical seed-dispersal mechanisms result in the seed(s) being deposited on the ground surface; rain and other weather my result in covering them with some soil or ground litter but the majority of seeds in the wild germinate within a few millimeters of the surface. Now, I don’t know if most or even any seeds actually _require_ light to sprout, but it is available to them. Well, the seed dispersal system I use when I plant a garden involves pushing seeds an inch or more into the soil and covering them up, so I feel confident that the statement “germination requires light” is incorrect. “Some germination requires light” may or may not be correct. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769/22 "2009-04-22T15:18:45Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Well, the seed dispersal system I use when I plant a garden involves pushing seeds an inch or more into the soil and covering them up, so I feel confident that the statement “germination requires light” is incorrect. “Some germination requires light” may or may not be correct. Fir trees don’t normally push their seeds an inch into the ground (;)), but you’re right, I spoke too generally. My skepticism about the video led me to be too flip. Clearly the object in the video is a cutting from a mature branch, however, and not a newly-germinated seedling. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769/23 "2009-04-22T15:49:18Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Aren’t fir seeds pretty big, like the size of a peanut? It’s hard to imagine inhaling one. I believe the medical term is “aspirate,” and it is possible to aspirate lost teeth and fillings. A seed wouldn’t be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769/24 "2009-04-22T15:49:30Z")
I’m guessing fake as well, the “evidence” looks like a well developed yet dead spruce branch, fully grown needles and everything yes, some seeds do require darkness to sprout, but even if the seed did sprout in his lung (highly improbable in it’s own right) it would not have developed to the extent seen in the video, it would probably have put down a taproot and perhaps a set of baby leaves which would then wither and die due to lack of light exposure ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769/25 "2009-04-22T16:08:17Z")
Is it possible that he aspirated that small twig? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769/26 "2009-04-22T16:39:37Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Is it possible that he aspirated that small twig? I can’t imagine it would have gotten nearly as deep into his lung as what I saw this was supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769/27 "2009-04-22T18:48:04Z")
I wasn’t aware how deep it was. Still, it seems easier to believe than the idea that it grew there. Of course the idea that the whole story is complete top to bottom bullshit is even easier to believe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-a-tree-in-his-lung/493769.md?page=1)