Varga plant Varga plants were deadly plant s native to the planet Skaro . " Varga " literally meant " devourer " . ( AUDIO : " Masters of Earth " ) Biology . The most common variety of Varga plants resembled large cacti , but with roots that allowed them to drag themselves along . They had the ability to poison other creatures with their thorns , making them into other Varga plants . An infected victim would first become homicidal . As the infection progressed , white hair would grow over their bodies . ( TV : " Mission to the Unknown " ) As the toxin infected a person ' s system , they would hear a voice calling them to join the Varga and kill . Proximity to the plants meant their influence was greater ; they could even feel Varga plants if they were in pain . Transformation into a Varga depended on the severity of the wounds inflicted . ( AUDIO : " Masters of Earth " ) Another variety of Varga plants , which infested Kaalann , was different in appearance , being more akin to a Venus flytrap and immobile . Their venom also killed with a touch . ( GAME : " City of the Daleks " ) The spines could not penetrate the thick hide of a Slyther . ( COMIC : " The Only Good Dalek " ) By the Last Great Time War , Varga plants possessed regeneration inhibitor s which could kill a Time Lord instantly . ( AUDIO : " Legion of the Lost " ) History . Varga plants existed since very early in Skaro ' s history . The name " Varga " meant " devourer " in the Dal language . Originally they could not move ; instead they would wait until their prey approached them . Later , due to the chemical and radiological pollutants in Skaro ' s atmosphere and environment , they began to mutate so they could move . ( TV : " Mission to the Unknown " , AUDIO : " Purity " ) The Dalek s also imported them to other worlds . They were used during the 22nd century Dalek invasion of Earth when they planned to turn the entire world into a battle platform from which to shower other worlds with Varga seeds . ( AUDIO : " Masters of Earth " ) When the Daleks set up a base on the planet Kembel in the 40th century , they brought some Varga plants with them to act as sentries in the jungle surrounding their base . Jeff Garvey and Gordon Lowery , members of Marc Cory ' s expedition team , became infected . ( TV : " Mission to the Unknown " ) The plant was again found on a terraform ed Jupiter where the plant infected a large battalion of Earth Alliance troops . ( AUDIO : " " ) Varga plants were utilised on Vildar during the Last Great Time War . Collis died after touching one of the plants . ( AUDIO : " Legion of the Lost " ) Following the Time War , Varga plants infested the ruined Dalek capital city of Kaalann . Though these could not move themselves , they had long , snapping " mouths " which excreted jets of venom . ( GAME : " City of the Daleks " ) When the operators of Station 7 took a section of petrified forest from Skaro , they took some Varga plants with it . These plants were similar to the ones used on Kembel , but possessed arms and legs , rendering them capable of full movement . Hadleigh fell victim to them , as well as two members of Gamma Team . ( COMIC : " The Only Good Dalek " )