They had both. Why not burn them? I'm researching the movie now. Maybe they do at the end and I forgot. But that seems like a pretty obvious thing to do - considering plants burn.
Anyways. All in all I like the originality of this movie.
The Mayans or the Americans?
shareBut what if the plants or a disease that they have is airborne? Maybe they didn't burn it for the same reason we don't burn poison ivy; the allergen (I don't know if that's the right word) is carried in the smoke, and can cause severe reactions, even death, in people who are allergic to them. Just a thought.
shareThey had half a bottle of alcohol which they needed for other reasons and even if they didn't need the alcohol there wasn't enough to burn all the plans considering those plants were green and healthy not dry and brittle. By the time they realized it was the plants they've already noticed the plants was growing on their clothes so they knew no matter what the Mayans watching over the temple wouldn't let them leave even if they somehow destroyed every plant. The little Mayan boy a plant touched his clothes for a split second and they killed him over it so they knew they would never was going to come off of that Temple alive
shareThis is a common misconception. Average strength alcohol is not flammable. You need like Barcardi 151 light it on fire using a match. Regular vodka or tequila is as likely to help put a fire out.
shareThis sounds like a job for agent
orange or Roundup(TM)
Or Nike 'Em from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.