Auralisin Fungus – Lot #67, Luxury Botany
Kristie’s Auctioneer is proud to offer, for the first time in nearly ten years, two Auralisin Fungus sprouts.
Rarity – Extreme. According to some reports, no more than a few hundred grow in the wild at any given time. Numbers grown in private gardens are thought to be low, as they are notoriously difficult to grow in domesticated areas, even with conditions that are otherwise ideal.
Origin – Sprouts can be found on the east coast of South America and the southwestern coast of Africa. The provenience of these particular sprouts is unknown. The seller, who is understood to have some expertise in the matter, believes they are privately grown, not wild.*
Seller – Name withheld by request.
Requirements – Tier 2 status or better. Buyer will also need to submit to FBI-run background check. Members of the military, clandestine services, members of any national or local police agency and anyone currently on any terrorist watch lists are invited to pass on submitting any planned bid on Lot #67.
Description/History:
These mushrooms only grow in small rock pools within a small radius of freshwater river waterfalls. The mushrooms rarely grow more than two inches in height. Fully grown specimens are often smaller. The mushrooms natural lifespan is unknown.
Aaln Ginrut, the 19th century German botanist considered history’s leading expert on this species of fungus, found no correlation between waterfall size and the growth potential of the mushrooms. According to his research, they can be found growing nearby waterfalls that range in size from just a few inches all the way up to a few hundred feet.
In their native regions, the history of eating these mushrooms goes back thousands of years. When ingested, the mushrooms grant the consumer a brief window to hear what someone else truly means when they speak. A favorite of wives who suspect infidelity, executives who suspect (or, perhaps, champion) corporate espionage and paranoid leaders throughout history.
Shamans in prehistoric villages are thought to be the first to discover this strange ability. They used the mushrooms during disputes or trials, using the truth they heard while under the mushroom’s effect to pass judgement.
Studies on this wondrous effect are few and far between. Given the mushrooms rarity, and their expense if purchased through the open market, a trustworthy scientific experiment is impractical.
Ginrut is thought to have found a particular large colony on one of his trips to the South American jungle. In 1879, he used two dozen mushrooms to run tests on the Hearing Effect, as he dubbed it. His lab assistant was given a book to read and told to think of any number between 1 and 1000. Ginrut ingested the mushrooms, one at a time, and guessed the number while the assistant read aloud.
The test results were incredible. Ginrut guessed accurately the number on 99% of the experiments. Ginrut points out in his work that the incorrect guesses were likely caused by interference from his dog, Gerd, who had two fits of barking during the experiments.
Opening Bid – $5000 for the pair. Minimum increment of $100 per bid.
*Kristie’s Auctioneer company policy requires us to inform any potential bidders that wild Auralisin Fungi are generally thought to be more potent and, therefore, command a higher price among enthusiasts. Kristie’s makes no claim to the origin of these particular specimens. We remind potential bidders that our refund+return policy will not apply to this lot as it contains live plants.
The Tall Tale Year 