OMG!!! I discovered the source!!!

[ret5hd]

Went to the lake today (mucho social distancing) and saw this!
People, I bring you the "COVID Berry":



and the "COVID Bush":

[soothsayer]

1. Don't bring it here!

[handmade34]

2. good find

[ret5hd]

3. I am anxiously awaiting the call notifying me of my "Noble Prize".

[Coventina]

5. Write a good article about it, and you might be awarded a "Pullet Surprise!"

on edit: i kant spel

[wendyb-NC]

4. Whoa!

[handmade34]

6. didn't happen to be at a floral shop... eh??

[Laelth]

7. We're screwn! n/t

-Laelth

[Botany]

8. Button Bush

Cephalanthus occidentalis .... a great native wetland plant. Good for pollinators, butterflies, and birds.

[WestMichRad]

10. Right you are, on all counts

A very good species for pollinators.

It deserves much better than being associated with the tRump virus.

[Botany]

14. A good landscape plant too.

Especially for wet and or damp areas. Nice flower and good fall color too.

[ret5hd]

11. Thank you! Really.

My wife teaches microbiology. She is going to use the picture in her class and she was really hoping someone here would identify the plant. Again, DU comes through!

[Nitram]

9. I planted a button bush two years ago and it bloomed for the first time this May.

I've been gradually replacing all my non-native plants with natives of the Virginia Piedmont, where I live. They support insects which are essential when birds feed their nestlings.

[Botany]

17. If you haven't gotten them yet I would suggest planting some Possumhaw Viburnum.

Plant 2 ... better fruit set. Great Fall color with the fruits and leaves. Good for all
kinds of local/native critters.

https://vnps.org/johnclayton/2016/03/23/possumhaw-april-2016-wildflower-of-the-month/

[LAS14]

12. Congratulations!! No doubt you'll be up for a Nobel next year!!! nt

[ret5hd]

13. You spelled it wrong! It's "Noble".

[LAS14]

15. :-)

[wnylib]

16. What a scientic genius!

Now just use one of the spikes to inject a vaccine and voila! Virus conquered.

[NRaleighLiberal]

18. we saw that often when kayaking at Falls Lake in Raleigh NC

bees swarm it!

[Zambero]

19. Drain the swamp!

The thing obviously loves water. High and dry or we all die!

[airplaneman]

20. Cephalanthus occidentalis sounds deadly doesn't it n/t.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

21. Does this then mean Roundup will effectively treat coronavirus?

If so, you and Monsanto will save millions of lives!

I had confidence DU could save the world.............

[ret5hd]

22. Roundup enema would surely work!