Tangle Fern

Tangle ferns are a species of perennial fern found in the Coral Desert in Ecela, on Osao. They are a bright teal fern species that have a habit of overgrowing and dying from being unable to consume enough nutrients.

Anatomy

Tangle ferns are a teal colour and grow up to twenty metres tall. Their stems reach a metre in thickness, and can grow up to a hundred metres in length. Due to the weight of the ferns, they never reach more than twenty metres tall, and when their stems exceed this height it topples over and begins to grow along the ground, wrapping itself around coral spires.

The leaves of tangle ferns are short and sharp, with lightly serrated edges. They grow compactly, and each leaf grows even more leaves along the edges, held together with the veins. On the underside of each of the main leaves are the sori, where spores grow.

Uses

Tangle ferns, thanks to their fast growth and large sizes, are harvested in great quantities to be turned into rationable food. Their long shelf life and mild flavour makes them a very versatile food. In poorer civilisations with little access to food, other civilisations will often send large batches of tangle ferns to be used as food.

Distribution

Tangle ferns are endemic to the Coral Desert in Ecela. They are a common plant species and have been known to take over landscapes, absorbing all of the nutrients in the sand and soil and leaving none for other plants.

They live in tropical climates, hence why they thrive in the Coral Desert. They can also be found around the outskirts of the Ecela Plains, but cannot live there exclusively due to the soil not containing the correct nutrients needed.

Osao

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Osao is a rocky planet in the Kurhira System, one of eleven. It is characterised by an entirely tropical climate, with average temperatures (Celsius) in the forties, year round.
Five continents make up the majority of dry land on Osao. These five continents are home to perplexing lifeforms, intriguing peoples, and gorgeous sceneries.

Lifespan

100 years

Average Height

20 metres

Geographic Distribution

• Ecela
• Osao

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