Thread: Things that really don't exist, but some believe do.

The recent thread on Neroli oil and its source under preshaves etc. got me interested in other things that some might believe exist but are in fact either fictional or a misunderstanding of the root of a name. To start this off, here are two more from my list.

Canola plants (as in the source of canola oil)
Naugas (the source of Naugahyde).

Add you own. To qualify we must be talking about a nonexistant physical object (plant, animal, mineral) whose existance is hypothesized due to some false identification by humans. Not a mythical or spiritual being whose existance can neither be confirmed or denied (basically I do not want this to deginerate into a discussion on theism, atheism and/or agnosticism). Let's keep it real, or at least in the realm of this world.

I must admit, as a child I was certain that Jackalopes were real. I swear I saw them listed in an Encyclopedia at the time and even got in a heated argument with my best friend and his parents when they told me they didn't exist.

Chris L

Originally Posted by fccexpert

The recent thread on Neroli oil and its source under preshaves etc. got me interested in other things that some might believe exist but are in fact either fictional or a misunderstanding of the root of a name. To start this off, here are two more from my list.

Canola plants (as in the source of canola oil)
Naugas (the source of Naugahyde).

Add you own. To qualify we must be talking about a nonexistant physical object (plant, animal, mineral) whose existance is hypothesized due to some false identification by humans. Not a mythical or spiritual being whose existance can neither be confirmed or denied (basically I do not want this to deginerate into a discussion on theism, atheism and/or agnosticism). Let's keep it real, or at least in the realm of this world.

Does the Anti-Christ qualify?

Sorry....

Jordan

Vegetables!

Technically there is no such a thing as a vegetable. There are "vegetative parts," but no vegetables. Go ask a botanist. Anyway, this was true at the time I studied botany.

Originally Posted by honedright

Vegetables!

Technically there is no such a thing as a vegetable. There are "vegetative parts," but no vegetables. Go ask a botanist. Anyway, this was true at the time I studied botany.

That was back when they thought the earth was flat and the sun revolved around the earth ......

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I must admit, as a child I was certain that Jackalopes were real. I swear I saw them listed in an Encyclopedia at the time and even got in a heated argument with my best friend and his parents when they told me they didn't exist.

Chris L

I thought that until a couple years ago, even though I never knew exactly what they were supposed to be.

When I was a wee child I thought tomatoes grew on trees.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

The recent thread on Neroli oil and its source under preshaves etc. got me interested in other things that some might believe exist but are in fact either fictional or a misunderstanding of the root of a name. To start this off, here are two more from my list.

..............

Sort of like news on modern newscasts, TV and Radio.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

That was back when they thought the earth was flat and the sun revolved around the earth ......

That's where I remember you from!

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

When I was a wee child I thought tomatoes grew on trees.

What a clever child you were -

Amazon.com: Rare Italian Tree Tomato 15 Seeds - Grows 25 Feet Tall!: Patio, Lawn & Garden

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

I thought that until a couple years ago, even though I never knew exactly what they were supposed to be.

When I was a wee child I thought tomatoes grew on trees.

And of course, they are actually fruits, not vegetab...vetat...whatever.