Anthodite

These beautiful little beggers are called Anthodites, if I didn't screw up the spelling or the word. They were first discovered in these caves.

They grow at about 1 cm every 700 years. Originally the area we were in, where these grew, had no air.. it was just a vacuum. Scientists aren't sure if these will grow anymore because the vacuum has been filled.

As a testimony to how wretched some folks are, the state had to create a huge fine with a jail term for folks who pick these off the wall. Netting had to be put up to prevent people from snapping these tendrils off the walls to keep for themselves. Fortunately, I was able to work around the netting in my photography.