Del-Brikki

The Del-Brikki (meaning “drink tree” Del = tree, Brikki = to drink) is one of the more infamous plant species native to Dionysus. It grows in the wide expanse of the planet’s tropical and sub-tropical biomes, and its fruit is one of the main exports of that world.

The fruit of the Del-Brikki consists of an inedible hard outer shell that contains a sweet nectar that has an alcoholic content of about 90 proof. This naturally occurring cocktail is an important part of the laid-back tropical culture of most of Dionysus. The fruit naturally takes on rainbow coloration when ripe, and the top of the fruit where the stem attaches easily pops off, opening the fruit for consumption. The main enhancement to the enjoyment of the Del-Brikki was the introduction of refrigeration when the first humans arrived on Dionysus in GSC 155.

Once outside interests began farming the Del-Brikki, it was difficult to recruit the Dionysian population to work in the orchards, as the notion of commercial work was an alien one to most of their cultures. Initially, most of the work was done by an imported robotic workforce.

Vase tree

Habitat

The Vase-tree is native to the deserts of New Albuquerque.  It survives the arid environment by collecting rainwater (and any animals hapless enough to fall in) in the base of its massive trunk.  Found primarily in the arid regions of the planet's northern hemisphere, some species are found near the southern rain band as well, (whether these are the result of convergent evolution has been the subject of serious debate, but no conclusion has yet been reached).

Handy Vasetree sprite

Anatomy

The vase-tree is dominated by its trunk, which resembles a large vase (from which it gets its name).  The vase is hollow, and is ringed with rows of downward-pointing internal spines (which help it trap and digest any animals that fall in).  The vase typically forms around a single large knot in the wood of the trunk (known as the "navel" of the tree), which is often drilled out by those knowledgeable in desert survival as the fastest way to the tree's water supply.  The upper end of the trunk centers around a large opening that supplies water and nutrients to the tree. 

Vase trees only have a few large leaves that sprout from large stalks coming out of the trunk.  The underside of these leaves is covered (in most species) with a thick growth of vines.  The ends of these vines sprout flowers that then give way to small fruits.  When these fruits are ripe, the vines detach from the leaves.  Many of these fruits are edible to humans, and the various nomads and wildlife of the planet often consume them.

Most vase-trees are between 5 and 10 meters high, although specimens as large as 250 meters are known to have existed when humans first arrived on New Albuquerque.  Most of the largest vase-trees were harvested for wood in the early years after the crash of Garcia's Hope.

Economic value

The wood of the vase-tree is porous, and not suitable for most construction applications, although larger trees have more solid wood, which is.  The wood of even small vase-trees is still valuable for paper-making or fuel.  The fruits (in most species) are edible.  The fruits are typically semi-sour in flavor, yet nourishing, and have become the basis of several dishes in the cuisine of New Albuquerque.  The main economic value of the vase-tree lies in its ability to store water in the desert wastes.

Another use of the vase-tree is the downward-pointing spines that grow in the interior of the trunk.  These are often harvested and used as spears by Vorgon nomads.

The Tale of the Vase-tree

The tale of the vase-tree was a common creation myth among the Vorgon tribes of New Albuquerque.  The Vorgons are also known as "goblinoids", though this name is considered to be somewhat derogatory, because of their resemblance to goblins from human folklore. 

The gist of the tale is that when the gods created the world, they inhabited it solely with plants, the greatest of which was the vase-tree.  Little did the gods realize that the vase-trees would bring forth the Vorgon race (who are claimed to be the parents of all the other animals through a series of degenerate events).  The first Vorgons are said to have climbed out of the trunks of the vase-trees, bending inward the long spikes that vase-trees grow on their interiors, which had previously pointed upward.  This so upset the gods that they sent a great calamity to dry up most of the world's water to punish the vase-trees.

Spire Trees

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Spire trees growing in the Shadowlands of Neo-Jalisco

Spire trees are tall, thin, genetically-engineered relatives of cypress trees that evolved to inhabit the low-gravity and perpetual twilight of the Shadowland Bogs on Neo-Jalisco.   The low light levels of the tree's natural environment made its needles grow black, in order to absorb all available light.

They were engineered as living security devices, designed to repel or kill intruders on the grounds of the estates of minor nobility in the star kingdoms of the Sagittarius Rim.  Spire trees are sensitive to infrared, which allows them to detect intruders.  When this happens, special growths under the branches of the tree release clouds of a potent neurotoxin.  In small doses, the toxin induces nightmarish hallucinations.  At higher doses, it kills the victim.  Spire trees are generally planted as defensive windbreaks, so if an intruder gets too close, a small dose of toxin is released.  If this does not deter the intruder, the other trees in close proximity release enough of the agent that it should kill any vertebrate unprotected by full-environmental armor.