Lovecraftian Mycology

 

A fungi can be safely said to have no consciousness. Most scientists would agree with that statement, and I along with them. This however does not preclude the possibility of actions that can seem motivated or designed intentionally. Nature does this all the time. No, we humans didn’t consciously grow hands because we thought it was the right things to do. They were a biological mutation that happened to serve us extremely well in the wild. Those that it served happened to survive more often than those without hands, and so the mutation carried over through the thousands and millions of generations.

Likewise, the actions of a fungi are without motivation. If a particular fungus species happens to have a trait which serves it surprisingly well, this can only be said to have carried over through previous mutations. The fungi, like all non-sentient life, is without motivation. The harm it can bring, however, can be just as deadly as that life that has motivation. In this sense, the actions, and in fact appearance, of certain types of fungi can be said to be Lovecraftian in nature.

A Lovecraftian characteristic has many different definitions to many different people, and originates from the works of fantasy writer, H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft’s work would often invoke elements of the strange, alien, and completely terrifying. Many of the creatures from his stories would be utterly incomprehensible, and so descriptions of them often fall short of capturing their true nature. As well as this, often Lovecraft’s writings would contain entities or simply events which were acting without reason or motivation. It wasn’t that they were evil or maligned with what humans considered ethical. It was the fact that the very question of morality would not make sense in their sphere.

Lovecraft’s stories and those of writers since, talk about the limited understanding humans have about their environment, as well as hint at something bigger and incomprehensible out there in the universe. They provide humility to those reading the work, and often strike fear due to the unknown factor at play. Knowing that nothing can be done about whatever ‘evil’ might be lurking around the next corner, and whether the evil even notices if it hurts you or not, can lead to feelings of helplessness by the reader.

As it relates to fungi, I’d like you to take the time to consider Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. Simply put, this is a parasitic fungus that infects the brain of an ant. Once infected with the fungus, the ants behavior changes and it is compelled to seek out a temperature and humidity level which best serves the fungus. This happens to be a certain distance up certain plant stems. Once there, the ant will attach it’s mandibles to the stem and wait. After a period of time, the fungus will grow a large stalk through the head of the ant. The end of this stalk will contain a capsule containing thousands of spores which will release from the capsule and infect any ants which happen to be underneath. Hence, the cycle continues until the colony has been completely infected with the fungus. 

 

The fact that this fungus is completely without reason or motivation, and yet, can so perfectly function to manipulate the very mind of a living creature to carry out precise instructions necessary for its infestation – I find this fascinating and terrifying. This evolutionary design is something that can be said to be Lovecraftian because of it’s utter lack of awareness, and yet perfection in what it is doing. It doesn’t care about spreading or even consciously senses the ant. It has simply evolved a mutation that allowed it to perfectly spread in its environment. The fungus couldn’t care less if it infected the ant, for it has no motivation. It can not be reasoned with or tamed, for it has no awareness.

This is Lovecraftian mycology in action.