Megaxylem
A megaxylem is a large, deciduous plant native to Caudal D and frequently cultivated by Vale Verdials for both decorative and medicinal purposes. As the name implies, megaxylem are famous for their extremely large inner passages filled to the brim with a slick, milky latex with medicinal properties.
Basic Information
Anatomy
A megaxylem grows as a lean, straight trunk which forks into profuse tufts of leaf-bearing branches close to the top. Different tiers of branches are established over the course of a plant's growth, with each tier being fully established at the end of each summer. Unlike most plants of its height, the megaxylem has only a thin later of paper-like bark, with the green, living flesh of the trunk partaking in photosynthesis as much as the maple-like leaves do.
The defining feature of a megaxylem is its numerous large internal capillaries, or xylem, running the length of the trunk. Indeed, unlike most trees, a megaxylem does not retain its heartwood; instead, the thick, fibrous outer wall of the plant serves the purpose of providing structure for the plant while the inside is resorbed to make way for large volumes of pest-repelling, fast-drying latex. When cut, the plant weeps this latex to patch the hole.
Growth Rate & Stages
If not checked by competition from local plants or fungi, the maximum size of a megaxylem is only set by the ability of its outer wall to support its burgeoning weight. Most specimens grow about as fast as a weeping willow and can become up to five feet across, though truly gargantuan specimens have been turned into homes by enterprising verdials in the past. In modern times, most megaxylem only grow to around three feet across before collapsing or being felled by verdial woodsmen for their raw materials.
Ecology and Habitats
Megaxylem are commonly found in Caudal D and adjacent cube faces, though it could theoretically thrive in any cool forest where sufficient water exists. In Caudal D, megaxylem form copses in lowlying river valleys and other places where the region's giant fungi do not find purchase for whatever reason. Smaller specimens can often be found in the yards and gardens of verdial domiciles.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Megaxylem are known to have a relationship with adjoining patches of giant Caudal mushrooms in that both populations share colonies of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms between them. It has been suggested that these microorganisms might also contribute to the exchange of other beneficial chemicals between the two populations (i.e. signalling associated with disease states), though this remains a matter of speculation.
Biological Cycle
During the spring and summer, megaxylem are green and grow new leaves and branches in the current canopy 'tier.' During fall, the stem takes on a brownish-red color, while the leaves become yellow, orange, or red before eventually falling off in preparation for winter hibernation. While the plant becomes dormant during the winter months, the undried latex within it serves the additional purpose of retaining water and preventing freezing in the innermost layers of the plant. When spring comes, the plant greens, regrows leaves on all canopy tiers, and begins the cycle anew.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Both wild and farmed megaxylem are felled or tapped for their latex, which has a number of useful properties, including antihemorrhagic, enhanced wound healing, and skin moisturizing properties. These features make the plant a prominent centerpiece in the Elderhood Rite and an in-demand cultivar for the Vale medical industry, with firms such as the Ghostleaf Foundation looking into other potential uses for the latex (i.e. self-healing equipment).
While all parts of the megaxylem are edible with proper preparation, the latex is said to lend the plant an unpleasantly bitter, 'green' flavor. Indeed, other than desperately hungry individuals, no known animal will willingly eat part of a megaxylem if presented with the opportunity.
Scientific Name
Megaxylem Caudata
Conservation Status
Because the megaxylem is an important cultural and medicinal cultivar, the Petalcap Vale Customs Authority oversees conservation efforts with regards tot he megaxylem, though the species is not threatened as of the year 10,000 AR.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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