The three stainless steel stylised trees , known as The Triffids , after the carnivorous , killer plants in John Wyndham's sci-fi novel , The Day of the Triffids , turned into a radio series and a movie , are enjoying the torrid weather at James Cook University , Townsville . Each seven metres high , they respond to sun, wind and rain ... emitting various lights , rain in the form of mist and rattling metallic leaves . With monotonous regularity , the Townsville media , when it comes to a weather story , usually whips down to The Stand and photographs visiting eye candy on the beachfront. A photograph of a Triffid in a bikini would be a welcome change and no doubt go viral .
