Plants that soften stone?  glh8180 at glh8180 at Wed Feb 1
22:58:45 EST 1995  In article <1995Jan27.085622.20694 at>, ae954
at (richard nisbet) writes: >I'm not a botanist, so please don't
get in a snit over my >ignorance.   I am working on a book on
the Peruvian Stoneworks. >From the time of the Spanish
Chroniclers (mid 1500's) there have >been theories and legends
that the incredibly accurate fit of  >their masonry was
accomplished with a plant that had the  >capability of softening
stone.         Yes, it is possible. Some plants that are
ecologically adapted to life in rock crevices (and this is a
common phenomenon among alpine plants) secrete acids to soften
the rock. Thus they gain a greater foothold in their niche. It
may well be possible that the Peruvians knew of a few such
plants from observation. However, I apologize for not being able
to give you any exact species as I do not know the flora of the
Andes.  Lidia A. Hess                *   That weakness overcomes
strength PSES/College of Ag           *   An