In "The Day of the Triffids" by John Wyndham, the world has become home to a strange, deadly plant called a Triffid. Able to move about in its roots and communicate with one another, the creatures are meat-eaters, that hunt animal prey with a long stinger that projects from its "head". Over time, Triffid cultivation has become commonplace since the de-stingered plants produce oil that is superior to other vegetable and fish oils.
The problem for mankind comes when a rare green meteor passes close by the Earth, blinding anyone who looks at its light. Largely robbed of its sight, mankind becomes easy prey for wild Triffids with only a scattered, sighted few left to try and save humanity from extinction.
