Varga plant
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Varga plants were deadly plants native to the planet Skaro. "Varga" literally meant "devourer". (AUDIO: Purity [+]Loading...["Purity (audio story)"], Masters of Earth [+]Loading...["Masters of Earth (audio story)"])
Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]
The most common variety of Varga plants resembled large cacti, but with roots that allowed them to drag themselves along. They had the ability to poison other creatures with their thorns, making them into other Varga plants. An infected victim would first become homicidal. As the infection progressed, white hair would grow over their bodies. (TV: Mission to the Unknown [+]Loading...["Mission to the Unknown (TV story)"]) As the toxin infected a person's system, they would hear a voice calling them to join the Varga and kill. Proximity to the plants meant their influence was greater; they could even feel Varga plants if they were in pain. Transformation into a Varga depended on the severity of the wounds inflicted. (AUDIO: Masters of Earth [+]Loading...["Masters of Earth (audio story)"])
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Another variety of Varga plants, which infested Kaalann, was different in appearance, being more akin to a Venus flytrap and immobile. Their venom also killed with a touch. (GAME: City of the Daleks [+]Loading...["City of the Daleks (video game)"])
The spines could not penetrate the thick hide of a Slyther. (COMIC: The Only Good Dalek [+]Loading...["The Only Good Dalek (comic story)"])
By the Last Great Time War, Varga plants possessed regeneration inhibitors which could kill a Time Lord instantly. (AUDIO: Legion of the Lost [+]Loading...["Legion of the Lost (audio story)","Legion of the Lost"])
Varga extract could serve as a "surprisingly passable" substitute for tea. According to the Eighth Doctor, it was the only way to make tea on Skaro. (AUDIO: Palindrome [+]Loading...["Palindrome (audio story)"])
History[[edit] | [edit source]]
On 14 August 1932, during the Paradox Cloud crisis, some plants in Central Park were turned into a Varga plant. The Thirteenth Doctor reverted this transformation with Paradox Dust. (GAME: An Unlikely Heist [+]Loading...["An Unlikely Heist (video game)"])
Varga plants existed since very early in Skaro's history. The name "Varga" meant "devourer" in the Dal language. Originally they could not move; instead they would wait until their prey approached them. Later, due to the chemical and radiological pollutants released into Skaro's atmosphere and environment during the Thousand Year War, they began to mutate so they could move. (TV: Mission to the Unknown [+]Loading...["Mission to the Unknown (TV story)"], AUDIO: Purity [+]Loading...["Purity (audio story)"])
Fifty cycles after the Thal-Dalek battle, Varga plants had begun to grow around the abandoned Dalek City. (AUDIO: Return to Skaro [+]Loading...["Return to Skaro (audio story)"])
The Dalek Empire later imported them to other worlds. They were used during the 2150s Dalek invasion of Earth of Earth when they planned to turn the entire planet into a warship from which to shower other worlds with Varga seeds. (AUDIO: Masters of Earth [+]Loading...["Masters of Earth (audio story)"])
When the Daleks set up a base on the planet Kembel in the 40th century, they brought some Varga plants with them to act as sentries in the jungle surrounding their base. Jeff Garvey and Gordon Lowery, members of Marc Cory's expedition team, became infected. (TV: Mission to the Unknown [+]Loading...["Mission to the Unknown (TV story)"])
Varga plant samples were collected from Skaro by Merrick Kingdom during a Dalek War and he later cultivated plants from them on Neptune. Venom from his plants was used by Abigail Crane to develop guns which simulated the effect of Varga venom, for potential use against Ogrons and Robomen. Her project was cancelled by the Space Security Service, however she continued to pursue it to sell the weapons privately until being exposed by the Tenth Doctor, Anya and Mark Seven. (AUDIO: The House of Kingdom [+]Loading...["The House of Kingdom (audio story)"])
The plants were again found on a terraformed Jupiter where the plant infected a large battalion of Earth Alliance troops. (AUDIO: Dalek War: Chapter Three [+]Loading...["Dalek War: Chapter Three (audio story)"])
Varga plants were utilised on Vildar during the Last Great Time War. Collis died after touching one of the plants. The War Doctor was able to destroy the batch after the fact. (AUDIO: Legion of the Lost [+]Loading...["Legion of the Lost (audio story)"])
Following the Time War, Varga plants infested the ruined Dalek capital city of Kaalann. Though these could not move themselves, they had long, snapping "mouths" which excreted jets of venom. (GAME: City of the Daleks [+]Loading...["City of the Daleks (video game)"])
A Varga plant was exhibited in the Space Museum when the Vashta Nerada invaded. (WC: Hall of Monsters [+]Loading...["Hall of Monsters (webcast)"])
When the operators of Station 7 took a section of petrified forest from Skaro, they took some Varga plants with it. These plants were similar to the ones used on Kembel, but possessed arms and legs, rendering them capable of full movement. Hadleigh fell victim to them, as well as two members of Gamma Team. (COMIC: The Only Good Dalek [+]Loading...["The Only Good Dalek (comic story)"])
