Breathing Tree

The tree gets its name from the inflating and deflating movements of the trunk as it intakes air through the opening in the top and out through gill-like slits along its sides.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Not a tree at all, but a colony of algae-like organisms in the shape of a trunk. It would most accurately be compared to a colony of coral than an actual tree. The trunk is hollow, open to the air above and rooted into the ground below. The exterior of the trunk is actually the armored backsides of the individual organisms. Inside are the mouths surrounded by stinging tentacles used to capture prey. Each organism is about a centimeter across and 2-10 cm long from mouth to armored backside.

Growth Rate & Stages

Breathing Trees get larger as they get older. Because they are colonies of individual organisms, they do not suffer from old age, per se. However, as long as conditions are favorable, they will continue to grow and there is no known practical limit to their size.
As a breathing tree gets larger, it develops vertical folds somewhat like a saguaro cactus does. As it grows larger still, even those folds get folds, and so on and so on in a fractal nature in the same way that mammalian lungs have evolved into collections of alvioli. When a breathing tree inhales, the entire colony expands and the creases of its folds disappear as it looks like and inflated balloon. When it exhales, all the surfaces come together, starting at the top so that nothing can escape. The force of air expelled through the gills is significant.

Ecology and Habitats

Native to tropical areas without frost. On Rifts earth, small colonies can be found in Florida, the southern portions of Georgia and along the gulf coast. A collection of immense colonies also exist on Rifts Earth in southeast asia, unknown to North Americans.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Breathing Tree eats insects and small birds and any animals foolish enough to fall into its trunk. The detritus collecting and decomposing in the bottom of a breathing tree attracts insects and the inhalation of the breathing tree is enough to suck in and trap those flying nearby. The largest colonies generate enough suction to inhale birds.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Exploration into he detritus collected in the bottom of breathing trees could possibly yield interesting finds, from rare materials to odd treasures. But the primary practical use of a breathing tree would be to somehow incorporate its natural armor into a form of protection.
It is possible to use a breathing tree as a form of execution or torture by lowering a captive into one large enough to fit it.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

There is a collection of detritus and rainwater that inevitably builds up in the bottom of a breathing tree. This mass ends up becoming a breeding ground for fungus and insects and even plants. Since breathing trees are carnivorous, large breathing trees could conceivably have entire actual trees growing up from inside them, protected by the breathing tree itself.

Origin/Ancestry

Off-world (unknown)

Conservation Status

Extremely rare. Only a few colonies exist on Rifts Earth.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Because the primary food source for a breathing tree is insects, it has adapted to incorporate insect chitin into its own body. The armored exterior of a breathing tree is tanned sclerotic chitin forming thorny spikes which dissuade predators from attacking the shell. Less mature organisms in the colony that haven't had the time to properly tan their exoskeleton appear to have a rainbow sheen like that of a dragonfly wing. Since a breathing tree colony is constantly growing and replacing dead members, the outside of one is an attractive collection of rainbow colored glints among nasty looking thorns and spines.