Cracklema (Crack-al-mah)
Often considered a go-to plant when it comes to satisfying a Churrian's love for spicy food, the Cracklema is a flavorful pepper plant whose peppers are often dried for seasoning or used directly in a variety of dishes such as the Wurst. Capable of surviving at high altitudes, the plant is considered a surprisingly resilient crop whose presence is welcome in any Sanguar Institute facility.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Often growing several feet tall, the Cracklema plant, like many plants on Churr, grows with a dark reddish hue that is only differentiated by the purple peppers that dot its features. Bearing leaves that whorl around its central stem, the Cracklema pepper plant will bear several purple-colored peppers of a fat almost oblong shape that eventually reaches a point near the bottom.
Genetics and Reproduction
Once the Cracklema's peppers have developed, they are often found to contain a multitude of small black seeds that many Churrians will warn other species not to directly consume due to the significant amount of spice and heat they contain.
Growth Rate & Stages
Consisting primarily of four stages of growth, the Cracklema pepper plant will grow from a small black seed into a reddish sprout that eventually will grow into a plant around 3-4 feet tall. Blooming with white flowers with long petals, these flowers will eventually turn into fruiting purple hot peppers that can be harvested. This process takes around 2-3 months.
Ecology and Habitats
Native to the planet of Churr, the Cracklema is at home in mountainous regions where its ability to gather nutrients from sparse and cold environments proves useful. That said, it can grow in temperate environments as well and has proven to be grown in greenhouses, allowing the Churrians to spread it throughout many of their settled locations.
Additional Information
Domestication
Kept as a household favorite for many Churrians within gardens, greenhouses, and houseplants, the Cracklema has seen a variety of different variations evolve from this relationship. This includes smaller versions able to fit into petite pots within Churrian kitchens as a form of fresh produce as well as hotter and hotter breeds being created by Churrians with a taste for spice.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Grown and kept primarily as a hot ingredient for food, the Cracklema pepper is often used as a fresh addition to many Churrian dishes with its flavor being comparable to sizzling meat. However, the Cracklema's peppers can also be dried and ground up to create crackle, a popular spice that is maintained as a staple in many Churrian kitchens for its heat and pop rock-like texture.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Originally hailing from the Churrian home world of Churr, the Cracklema has been able to find a consistent home within the Sanguar Institute's facilities and bases due to its popularity as an originator of the spice crackle. As such, it has been spread throughout various regions within Refuge where the Sanguar Institute has had a significant presence.
Lifespan
3 to 5 years.
Conservation Status
This species is relatively rare throughout Refuge as it is primarily found in Churrian gardens as opposed to being allowed to grow in the wild, though there are exceptions.
Average Height
Is able to grow to around 3 to 4 feet high.
Geographic Distribution
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