Itchberry is a small bush, named for its fruit, native to Iblaan. The fruit of the itchberry has great cultural significance in the Iblexian Empire as a favorite ingredient in various dishes. So much so, that a cluster of itchberries is the official symbol of the BBQ and Delicatessen Guild, one of the most important social institutions in the empire (which functions very similarly to a professional sports league). The Iblexian name for the itchberry translates to “royal fruit”, but most humans know them as itchberries due to the mild allergic reaction they cause. The berries themselves are sour, and usually lead any human who eats them to break out in an itchy rash that can last for up to a week.
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.
Glogvine
Glogvine is a short plant (average height is around 25cm fully grown), native to the highland regions of New Promise. The main stalk consists of several vines that twine and braid around each-other. The bright blue seed-pods attract foraging animals, and make a sweet and crunchy addition to a spring salad.
Pixielamp
Pixielamp is a segmented grass native to New Promise. The name derives from a combination of the plant's small size (the tallest species is only 10cm tall), and the plant's most distinctive feature, the bio-luminescent flower it grows in the late spring. These flowers come in a variety of colors with pink and greenish-yellow being the most common.
Economics
Due to it's glowing flowers, Pixielamp found its way into floral arrangements and ornamental gardens across the galaxy, and various greenhouses on New Promise did a brisk business in this local plant.
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.
Lantern-vine
Of the unique life-forms of Aldebaran 2, the lantern-vine is one of the most popular. It is a climbing vine that bears large, bio-luminescent flowers.
In the wild, lantern-vine pollination is dependent on nocturnal insects attracted by the vine's glowing flowers.
The flowers only bloom for a few days during the warmest part of the summer. Aldebaran 2 has a rather long year compared to most inhabited worlds, but the lantern-vine adapted rather easily to worlds with shorter seasons, making it a popular ornamental addition to gardens throughout the galaxy.
In places where lantern-vines grow in abundance, people often have evening festivals and parties to enjoy the illuminated blossoms of the plant. The summer blooming is considered a romantic eventfor couples to go out together.
Bravaxian Garbage-fruit
Bravaxian garbage-fruit is a large melon, notable for its pungent odor (similar to rotting garbage). The Melon's skin is bright red with white spots, the flesh is pure white, with small, black seeds. The foul scent of the melon can be removed by steaming off the skin.
Garbage-fruit grows on short vines with square leaves that grow in the marshy quarters of the Wind-forests on Bravaxia. The garbage-fruit vine has small, deep-red flowers. When the Greys arrived on Bravaxia, garbage-fruit was a commonly gathered food. It turned out to be relatively easy to domesticate, and became a cornerstone crop of the agricultural economy.
Even when de-scented and carefully prepared, garbage-fruit is unpalatable to humans due to its bland flavor and soggy, pulpy texture. The experience of eating it is said to be similar to eating wet cardboard. Greys, and Bravaxians on the other hand thoroughly enjoy garbage-fruit, savoring its odor and texture.
Growing garbage-fruit was one of the main occupations of Bravaxian slaves during the Convergence occupation of Bravaxia. Even after the occupation ended during the third Convergence War, Garbage-fruit remained one of Bravaxia's chief exports. For Bravaxians, garbage-fruit is a staple of their diet. Among Greys, garbage-fruit is a sought-after delicacy. On human worlds, its pulpy texture made it useful for the production of cheap paper, and its low price often made it a foodstuff of last resort for the desperately poor.
