  We show that in single scalar field models of the dark energy with equations
of state satisfying $w \equiv p / \rho < -1$, the effective Lagrangian for
fluctuations about the homogeneous background has a wrong sign spatial kinetic
term. In most cases, spatial gradients are ruled out by microwave background
observations. The sign of $w+1$ is not connected to the sign of the time
derivative kinetic term in the effective Lagrangian.
