Strangler Vine

Valerick has many unique and strange plant species to study, however among some of my personal favorites for their unique nutritent needs and systems are the variety and class known as Botanica Carnivora. The dozen or so documented species, though I am sure there are more than that across the planes, if not even upon our own world, are all unique in that they do not draw their nutrients from mere water and sun and soils like most flora. These plants are hunters of a kind, predators in their own strange and unique way, garnering their nutrition and grown from flesh, bone, or blood. A simple and interesting example, an excellent introductory study to this unique and strange classification of flora is of course the Suffocium Lashnious, or to give the plant is less formal and more well known name, the Strangler Vine. That common name, whilst not entirely incorrect, does not truly offer a proper explanation of the fascinating and unique process by which this plant kills its prey, and sustains itself upon them. So today, and moving forward for the next two weeks, we shall be exploring the fascinating and unique qualities and behaviors of this strange and wonderous family of plants.

Daeni Levina, a respected and tenured botanist giving a lecture at Kelethan's Naturalist Educational Institution.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Patches of Strangler Vines are notorious for their simply...mundane look, as if just a thick patch of nettle or wild grape vine or carpet vines. They can be found in wooded regions all across Valerick, jungles, rainforests, woodlands, tiagas, however they seem best adapted to more temperate climates. They look relatively harmless, no different than any other tangled patch of brush or vine or root one might see upon the forest floor. Of course this is part of the success of this species, that harmless and mundane look, the lack of any bright colors, obvious markings of danger, or threatening thorns or spines. However the fibrous strands of this plant are as if rock or corded muscle, and admist the leaves upon it, mere bait for prey, this is where the danger lies.

Biological Traits

The Strangler Vine is a fascinting plant for its unique botanical traits. If one cuts into the vines the sap that leaks forth has a uniquely sanguine color to it, and though it has a sweetness to its scent and flavor, there is a notable metallic tang that undeniably brings to mind the coppery and metallic tang of blood upon the tongue. The vines have a tight fibrous structure, flexing and seeming almost as if under constant tension. The roots and core of the plant is more solid, entrenched, and seeming far more rigid and unmoving, though of course this is untrue. The roots simply don't have the ability to move as suddenly or swiftly as the vines. The taproots are uniquely interesting, as they also seem to contain a complex filter system to filter out unwanted components from the bodily fluid soup the smaller tendril roots will be absorbing, and this taproot generally will seem as if a dried out husk when first it enters a victim, but will have swollen to a size unable to be removed by the time the victim is sucked dry. Once the vines have drained all the nutrition from a victim, this taproot will merely crack off the main core and die, rotting with the skin, unwanted tissues, dried out organ meats and bones of the corpse, providing nutritional benefits to small insects and other scavengers and the soil all around the vine patch.

It would seem Strangler Vine patches can live anywhere from 15-20 years in the wild, and they grow quite rapidly from when they first sprout, doubling in size over every year or two for the first six or so years of their existence so long as there is readily available food. These are a creeper, not generally growing vertically, staying low near the floor of the forests they are found in. However they grow over quite a wide area, with most patches likely growing to take up anywhere from a 15-25 foot diameter area, though it is notable they don't choke off other plant life, simply growing around and between them, adapted it would seem, to utilize them as another layer of bait.

Dietary Needs and Habits

It would seem that a patch of Strangler Vines needs to take down about an adult deer or the equivalent, every two weeks or so to sustain itself. This is merely to sustain, not grow and propagate however. Once it has a victim grabbed and properly subdued, likely constricted, the vines slowly pull the mass of flesh towards the core of the plant, the roots and 'stem' if you will. A shallow trough will have been scraped by the roots, the creature will be deposited there. Next a singular tap root, a feeder root, will slowly force the now unconscious and dead/dying creature's mouth open and extend down into its throat, and over the next two or three days little tendril roots will rapidly grow from this tap root, moving through airways, blood vessels and soft tissue, seeking every bit of blood and any other bodily fluids, taking nutrition from all of them, even waste fluids, over the next two or so weeks. The rest of the roots, once the tap root is inserted, will cover the creature and trough with a thin layer of soil, effectively hiding the obvious danger sign, and the vines themselves will exude a powerful herbacious sent, an oil from their core stem and roots, to cover the smell of the dessicated and decaying corpses below.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The strange excretion that numbs and makes lax muscles and tendons is a valued medicinal ingredient, though there are no truly safe methods to harvest this sticky substance that coats the vines of this plant.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Though they prefer cooler and more temperate climates by and large, they can be found in any dense woodland areas, including more tropical or warmer climates such as jungles or rainforests. They do not like bogs or marshland however the large saturation of soil, the groundwater seeming less than ideal for this plant species.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Patches of Strangler Vine have sensitive root systems that extend outward from their central core, allowing them to sense movement upon the forest floor around them it would seem. Though the vines will seem unmoving, natural, at rest, they are like coiled spring traps, and the instant any creature gets to close, or perhaps makes the mistake of attempting to feed upon leaves growing from the vines, they will suddenly and forcefully lash out, attempting to bludgeon, trap and grapple the creature. The vines also seem to excrete a strange sap like substance that has a numbing effect upon flesh, causing the muscles and tendons to become relaxed, almost lethargic, lessening the ability to resist.

Scientific Name

Botanica Carnivora Suffocium Lashnios

Lifespan

15-20 years

Average Height

20-30 cms (7"-11")

Average Weight

An entire mature patch of this plant can weight upwards of 136-181 kgs (300-400lbs) root system and all.

Average Length

4.5m-7.6m (15'-25')

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Subtle greens and browns, very normal forest like color tones, with no real bright markings to speak of, which is a large part of the threat they pose.