dr-boyd-tania

[dr-boyd-tania]

We've confirmed the existence of these plants! They look to be large vines that grow from tree to tree with small bulbs that grow on their stems! They look to glow at night, but we haven't yet confirmed how, nor how they support themselves on the trees, or even how they stay attached! We believe they may produce fruit, however.

Regardless, our team have decided to call christen them Actinidia Luminexum

#plants #fantasy #speculative biology

[dr-boyd-tania]

A new discovery!

This is a rarity! One of the field workers in our lab seems to have found a new plant! In their words; "I was walking out at night and noticed a glow along some trees. I couldn't get a good look, but they looked like small glowing bulbs."

I'll make sure to keep you all informed as we learn more! Hopefully, by sunsrise, we should get a better look!

#plants #fantasy #flowers #discovery

[dr-boyd-tania]

Lavacus

(Lavandula Labyrinthus)

Recently I had noted that I had the chance to see a Lavencus, and after unpacking my supplies, I’m ready to write about them! Though this may be a long entry, as there’s so much to talk about! Lavacus are one of the few surviving megaflora, and they truly do show it! Unlike the other flora I have spoken about here, Lavacus don’t have a singular “flower”, rather they are a sprawling maze of stems that form, as their name suggests, a labyrinth! Lavacus themselves are quite nutrient hungry, enough so that the ecosystems that develop around them tend to have them as the sole producer. It’s unknown exactly why the Lavacus forms in such a fashion, but there are theories that it does to manufacture a closed ecosystem inside itself. When it comes to sized, they are unmatched! Normally growing around 1 kilometer2, they are vast expanses of stems and leaves, normally growing upward around 1.8 meters. Inside the labyrinth hang leafless stems that produce light purple buds on the end, roughly 9-12 per stem. Upon pollination, a reaction occurs that causes the bud in question to be the only one to receive nutrients. After that, it starts to grow a large fruit! (Most have taken to calling the fruit a “Lavalil”, and I must say, it’s quite the adorable name) This fruit ripens, and are then eaten by the surrounding fauna, and are moved elsewhere. Considering the size of the Lavacus, it’s theorized that it is not a single plant, but instead a collective of many lavaci growing together! This is what I and my colleagues were studying during our trip, and I’ll make sure to keep you updated on our results! It should be possible to prove from the sampling we’ve collected, as well as through other means. Unlike the other plants, there’s very little to touch on when it come to historical/religious significance, but I might be able to come up with some info later!

#fantasy #plants #Tania's Journal

[dr-boyd-tania]

Clapping Greenpetal

(Droseraceae Adplaudomanus)

Clapping Greenpetal, more colloquially called the "Clapping Bloom" is quite the plant! In fact, it's quite a recent find (to science, at least). The bloom of the flower is made up of four verdant green petals, each with pink-red insides layered with a sticky nectar. Each petal is shaped somewhat like a fan, which will be important later! Fascinatingly, Clapping Greenpetal is a carnivorous plant! Along its petals are short, thin hairs that tell the flower when its prey has landed. Once an insect lands on its petals to feed on the sweet nectar inside, it suddenly shuts with a loud "CLAP!" hence it's name. Most insects are killed upon the rapid closing of the plant, however some do survive, however, the Greenpetal has a backup for that. The petals stay sealed shut, with its nectar acting as a "glue" of sorts. Its petals slowly start to constrict, pushing the insect deeper into itself, where it will eventually be forced into a small reservoir filled with digestive enzymes. Its prey is rapidly digested, and after 24 hours, it opens its petals back up to feed once again. Quite a fascinating plant, wouldn't you say? Sadly, as it's quite a new discovery, there isn't much of a history on it, but I'd say learning about its inner mechanisms is quite a ride on its own!

[dr-boyd-tania]

Hello!

Hello everyone! Apologies again for the lack of entries! Thankfully, I have good news, there is another journal entry currently in the works, as I was able to go on a field study of a Lavancus! However, me and the rest of the group got lost for a few days, but thankfully it gave me time to draw a few rudimentary sketches of its fruit. I've been documenting all that I can, so I hope you will stick around!

#speculative biology #plants #fantisy

[dr-boyd-tania]

Neanwood

(Neanelca Melanoxylon) Neanwood, also known as “Pure wood” or “Black wood” is a very notable tree, even amongst all the other types. It’s most notable (and visible) feature is it’s pigmentation; being a nigh pitch black inside and out. We are currently unsure as to why it’s so dark, however many attribute it to the high levels of activated carbon found inside of the tree.  Throughout history, Neanwood has been revealed for it’s cleansing properties, being able to filter certain liquids that pass through it when ground into a powder, including molten metals. In rituals, it has been used to create “purity water”, which has been known to dispel curses as well as simple illnesses.  Several centuries ago however, the church believed instead it was cursed and that Bleached Wood was instead the “pure” wood. This as well as the purge of Lionbeards is what lead to the Orchuss Plague being as deadly as it was. Years later, the church came to its senses and declared that both trees were sacred.  Nowadays, it’s a highly sought after tree, but thankfully due to conservation and replanting efforts, theres no worries of them disappearing!

#fantisy #plants #trees

[dr-boyd-tania]

Ah! Apologies for being gone for so long. The hatching season recently started so me and my partner have had our hands full helping the others, not to meantion the recent expedition! Regardless, I should be back to updating soon, however I cannot guarantee it will be too consistant.

[dr-boyd-tania]

Spine Wood (pinalis spinaca)

Spinewood is actually a close relitive to knotwood! Its general shape is the same with the diffrence of instead of gnarled knots around it, it has spines.

These spines aren't just for show however, oh no! Roughly 6 hours before a rain, wether it be a light drizzle or monsoon, its spines will shoot out its spines downward and "root" itself to the ground! This however is not for its protection, and instead is for it to absorb more water! On each of these "spine branches" are a combination of thin folicles and leaves that lay flat. Each aid in the bringing in of nutrients to the tree!

Spine wood is a great way to predict when rain will come, as well as its intensity. The more spines shot out, the heavier the rainstorm. The spines stay out until 3 hours after the rain as well, just to drink up that extra moisture. Research on this plant is actually still going on, so stay tuned!

#fantasy #plants

[dr-boyd-tania]

Knotwood (Pinales Knolus)

Knot Wood is a fascinating, albeit not uncommon type of tree. Its most striking festures are its "knots", which take the form of branches that have snapped off, while in reality they've simply grown that way.

The easiest way to determine knot wood is that the knots are perfectly flat, running a hand along them will never produce a splinter. Dispite that however, they do grow branches. After ~1.8 meters, the knots will suddenly stop, and large brances with pine needles will be produced, fanning out like any other pine.

Another property is that knotwood is a very strong wood, and is commonly used for furniture and such. The outside bark is brown of course, however the raw wood itself has a very light blue tint, and when properly processed, seems to gain a metalic shine when exposed to oxygen.

[dr-boyd-tania]

Lionbeard (Taraxacum erythrospermum)

This plant is unique, being nigh-completely inert. However, once at full maturity it's seeds will appear around the center with "parachutes" that allow them to detach and fly with the wind

As a phenomena, the flying seeds are colloquially called "lions kisses", and if one so happens to brush past you, it's a sign of good luck, but too many is an omen against overindulgence

The church held these flowers dear, many ceremonies involving the windows being opened and a central alter with many lionbeards allowed to spread across the chappel.

During The Blooming War however, the plant was seen as heretical, and many large fields were purged, but groups still kept packets of the seeds alive, causing smuggling routes to pop up.

A year later, the Orchuss plauge begain, devistating many cities around the area, however it was found that towns with patches of them (specifically hidden in family homes) tended to be healthier. The Mychim thusly undid their ruling on the matter, and patches begain blooming again.

It was found many years later that the seeds are coated in a substance that when applied to skin, will soak into the body and help boost the immune system dramatically.

[dr-boyd-tania]

Irongrass (Poeae Ferrum)

Irongrass, or more colloquially "Magnet Grass" is well known for growing in collums. It's not fully known if it is related to ironroot, but I personally believe it may be a sort of ancestor to ironroot, but as a grass.

Magnet grass has several odd properties exibited in very few other plants. The first of which is that it tends to grow in large, dense fields. A patch of under 100 blades will likely not survive.

Another trait is its most well known; its collums. Depending on the size of the group, the blades will arrange themselves in alternating, opposing directions. One group points north, the other, south.

The last fact is my favorate, dispite being the least known. The roots of irongrass is impressively intricate for what seems to be a simple grass on the surface. It forms in latticed teirs; thoes facing norths roots will be tiered closer to the surface, while thoes pointing south will grow lower. Facinatingly, if a large patch is uprooted, the rest will adjust to its new size, and the roots will migrate up and down accordingly.

#fantasy #plants #touch grass

[dr-boyd-tania]

Ironroot (Quercus Ferrum):

This species of tree is notable for 2 things; the first are that its roots have a suprising amount of pure iron in them, enough so that the tips of the roots tend to become coated in a very thin layer, leading to it coating the outside lightly as it grows out.

The second is that once the plant reaches an age of 400 (age based on when the first leaf had fully grown), on the exact day it reaches that age, four special roots called "tethers" will suddenly fill with iron & sugars. This causes a sudden burst of growth that causes the whole tree to suddenly and violently uproot itself.

#fantasy #plants