Blood Birches

"Blood Birches"
Indiscriminant looking medium-sized deciduous tree that has led to the shrieking downfall of many a wanderer. Has stark white bark fading to a red color at the thin branch ends, almost appearing blood soaked. They have a vast underground branching root system that is interwoven into individual trees, allowing each tree to warn other trees of danger through chemical messages. When disturbed the trees give off hallucinatory airborne chemical to disorient and drive away intruders or in some instances cause indirect death adding to the required nutrients of the forest floor.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A medium-sized deciduous tree with stark white bark fading to a red color at the thin branch ends. The leaves are coppery green with purple undersides, roughly triangular with doubly serrate margins, and turn rusty red in autumn before they fall. They have a vast branching root system that is interwoven into individual trees, allowing each tree to draw resources from other locations and send chemical messages from tree to tree. All aspects of the tree have the potential to be hallucinogenic and if the tree is injured it releases hallucinogenic chemicals into the air to disorient and potentially kill intruders. A prelude to this release is when the leaves turn over to reveal their purple undersides.

Genetics and Reproduction

Plant reproduction having both male and female flowers, pollinated by insects. But usually propagate using extended underground shoots (suckers) that develop roots and eventual new individual plants.

Growth Rate & Stages

Grows from 50 to 100 feet tall and 15 to 30 feet across.

Ecology and Habitats

Grows in nonexteme environments. Anywhere that its not too hot, cold, bright, dark, dry, or wet. Grows in temperate to subtropical regions of the world. It needs plenty of light and does best on flat, dry, nutrient and iron rich soils. As an iron dependent plant, it commonly grows near old battlefields, places of slaughter, or burial grounds. Has the ability to send chemical messages from tree to tree and release a hallucinatory defense system.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Resources are absorbed through the interconnecting branched root system. Individual trees may draw water and nutrient from interconnected trees far away if resources are scarce. Enjoys nutrient and iron rich soil and plenty of sunshine.

Biological Cycle

Plant grows from seeds or interconnected roots that periodically sprout saplings.

Additional Information

Domestication

Impossible to grow domestically.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The sap of Blood Birches is extremely hallucinogenic. Sap can be turned in to a hallucinogenic drink, powder, or pill. The leaves can be dried and smoked for hallucinogenic effect or steeped a hallucinogenic tea. While the previous uses are generally frowned upon, the tea is sometimes used as part of a spiritual ceremony.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Grows in nonexteme environments. Anywhere that its not too hot, cold, bright, dark, dry, or wet. Grows in temperate to subtropical regions of the world. It needs plenty of light and does best on flat, dry, nutrient and iron rich soils. As an iron dependent plant, it commonly grows near old battlefields, places of slaughter, or burial grounds.

Average Intelligence

Instinctual plant intelligence.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Plant

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Parasitic species of butterfly caterpillar.

Scientific Name

Betula Sanguinarius

Lifespan

75 to 150 years

Conservation Status

Rare species that is often avoided once it is identified.

Average Height

50 to 100 feet tall.

Average Length

15 to 30 foot spread.

Average Physique

Has an open canopy which allows plenty of light to reach the ground. This allows a variety of mosses, grasses and flowering plants to grow beneath which in turn attract insects

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Stark white thin bark with red blemishes on the trunk. Branches are white, fading to red at the thin ends. Coppery green leaves with purple undersides, that fad to rusty red in the autumn before falling.