consignees | AJNA | BESTIARY (FLORA)

AJNA \| BESTIARY (FLORA)
IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the known flora of Planet Ajna. Sector-locations are pending the Scouting Mission results.
AJNA MOSS	■ IS IT A THREAT: It makes rocks slippery. ■ APPEARANCE: White moss that's almost indistinguishable from snow. ■ PROPERTIES: The Ajna moss makes places slippery, especially when wet. It has a very bitter taste. Ingesting it can induce nausea. ■ ENVIRONMENT: Ajna moss grows on the rocky, less arid regions of the planet. It does not grow on trees and other vegetation. It can not thrive in places with lots of light. ■ RARITY: Common in places where they can grow.
BANJ BLOODWOOD	■ IS IT A THREAT: Just a regular plant. ■ APPEARANCE: They look like dead trees. The bark is white, and the branches have no leaves. They're pretty creepy, actually. The sap has a redish hue. ■ PROPERTIES: Not dangerous or toxic, but breaking off branches is literally a bloody mess, and who actually wants to eat that. ■ ENVIRONMENT: They're only found on the backs of the Banj, with which they share a symbiotic relationship. The tree uses the Banj to sustain itself and keep its roots from freezing, and the Banj uses the tree as camouflage. Neither can survive without the other. ■ RARITY: Relatively common
BLOOD LETTERS	■ IS IT A THREAT: It depends on the species (and the person!). The stinging hairs on the stems and leaves of the letters when in contact with skin can cause anywhere from mild irritation to sharp pain and a large rash. Also, as the plant ages, the hairs can fall from the plant and be carried in the wind, and if inhaled can lead to coughing and difficulty in breathing. They will also irritate the eyes, but because these hairs are aged and separate from the plant, the damage caused will likely be minimal. ■ APPEARANCE: The leaves and stem are generally consistent in colour, ranging from deep red to burgundy to dull brown. The leaves are somewhat heart shaped, growing out from a thick stem that is usually 5cm in diameter. Both the stem and the leaves are covered in short (0.5cm or so) translucent hairs that, around dawn, make the plant appear as if it is covered in frost. ■ PROPERTIES: Due to the hairs covering the plant, it causes irritation wherever it comes in contact with bare skin/flesh, and is therefore not edible. (Unless a species discovers that the hairs do not cause irritation, then they are welcome to consume it and will find that it tastes somewhat like charcoal.) However, cutting open the stem will reveal a semitransparent, red-tinted gel-like liquid that can be used as a salve to treat minor burns (like sunburns), and irritations such as the ones caused by the hairs of the plant itself. ■ ENVIRONMENT: Blood letters require sunshine to grow and are generally found in flatlands, though you would be able to plant one in a mountainous area and have it grow, it would likely not be able to reproduce due to the rocky terrain and constant winds. ■ RARITY: Blood letters have low mobility, and therefore while they exist in densely populated clusters, they generally do not grow outside of these communities, especially once outside the flatlands.
CASSIEL MINT THORNS	■ IS IT A THREAT: Not unless ingested. Its luminescence or chemiluminescence might be poisonous to some organisms. At the very least, you cannot digest it properly, so eating a Cassiel would cause you some abdominal distress (to say the least). ■ APPEARANCE: They are long, soft spike clusters that are mildly parasitic in nature. They attach themselves to other living plants (in particular, mountain mosses) and grow off of them. Their size can vary, though the largest they will ever get is around 8 feet. They are called "thorns" only because they resemble the shape and not because they are, in any capacity, sharp. When they are not ignited, they are a pale, milky-white. Against the snow, it is hard to see them. ■ PROPERTIES: The Cassiels have the peculiar ability to glow bright colors (of any variety) when they are touched or moved. Just a gentle pat will make them ignite and glow. At night, they make a very beautiful sight against the dark sky. They can also be plucked and used as sources of light for brief amounts of time (the color and effulgence lasts from 3-9 minutes only). The liquid inside of them that makes them glow can also be extracted and is non-toxic to most skin, plating, etc. It emits a slight warmth when applied and feels "tingly" and "refreshing," hence why they are called "Mint" thorns. ■ ENVIRONMENT: It can only be found in very high altitudes where the oxygen is thin. They flourish best in extremely cold weather conditions. ■ RARITY: Generally prevalent.
CREEPING ICE	■ IS IT A THREAT: It can make it hard to scale cliffs and the like, since it grows in the cracks of rocks on sheer surfaces; like most of the plants on Ajna, it can be digested by species who have evolved to digest it, but would cause mild distress to offworld species who attempted it (if they could find a comfortable way to eat what seems to be living ice to start with). ■ APPEARANCE: The "blooms" are spiny and white, and sharp and hard as ice, and near as cold. ■ PROPERTIES: While some of the longer-necked creatures or those who could scale rock faces to eat the plant, it's generally advisable notto do that; the animals which eat it seem to have evolved to do so, although it seems to paralyze others. The plant does not really actively do anything but grow on cliffs and the like and make climbing difficult. It can be ground up into a sort of numbing agent to be spread on the body, but that's really the only use that anyone could find for it. ■ ENVIRONMENT: The sides of cliffs and sheer rock faces. Creeping Ice doesn't need much sunlight to thrive, but it needs dark cracks to wind its roots into, and always grows on walls and sheer sides, not upright or anything of that nature. ■ RARITY: Common on cliffs and rock faces; never found anywhere else.
FROSTSHADE	■ IS IT A THREAT: It won't kill anyone, but causes hallucinations if it has contact with skin/is ingested. Is a bit like catnip, more so to native species. ■ APPEARANCE: Crystal-like with a blue or purple hue, a bit spiny. Cold to the touch, with a hint of that melt-your-skin sliminess. ■ PROPERTIES: Edible, but will cause mild hallucinations if it has contact with skin/is ingested. Cold and sweet, rather like frozen rock candy; will melt in your mouth. It can also cure infections/fight off bacteria, if you're willing to risk the side-effects. Native Anja species are less susceptible to it's hallucinogenic properties, as it's like an energy plant for them (does not have the same effect on non-native species, unfortunately). ■ ENVIRONMENT: Grows along the ground, usually nearby rocks or against other plant-life. A bit like a weed, crops up most nearby other flora. ■ RARITY: Common, but not "oh god it's everywhere" common.
GIANT LURID	■ IS IT A THREAT: Dangerous, not mobile. ■ APPEARANCE: It grows directly out of the ground, comes in a rainbow of colors and is large enough to house a full-grown Shai. ■ PROPERTIES: Bright, mixed colors that stand out against the snow, just asking for something to come over and investigate it. Upon entering a radius of about five feet, you'll notice heat emanating from it, and probably melted snow around the base. If you're stupid, you'll get closer and closer until the heat tempts you to try going inside the (empty) plant, which is very cozy and warm. Once triggering the sensory hairs inside, the plant will abruptly close its brim and start pouring in freezing liquid absorbed from any frost that's coated it. Enjoy being frozen alive and slowly digested. ■ ENVIRONMENT: It needs sun in order to produce heat, so the sunniest areas have the largest smatterings. Can be found on the ground, never on cliffs or steep faces (basically anything unwalkable by potential prey.) ■ RARITY: Clusters of up to five (5) can be found sparsely in bright plains. The seeds are able to sense if another cluster is too close and will hold back on germination until they get a substantial distance away. The lure of the plant for prey is its "oasis"-like quality, standing out as a small refuge against the cold.
ICE LILY	■ IS IT A THREAT: Not at all. Quite the opposite, actually. ■ APPEARANCE: The ice lily is a many-stemmed "flower" that looks more like an icicle that grew out of the ground than anything else. It is odorless, colorless, and not terribly large, no bigger than a human male's fist. ■ PROPERTIES: Ice lilies are prized by more sentient races on the planet for their healing qualities. When handled carefully, the lily can be ground into a fine powder used to treat poison, burns, and many other common ailments. Unfortunately, the flower is also very fragile; if one doesn't exercise caution in picking it, it will harden and shatter into useless pieces. It is not edible on its own. ■ ENVIRONMENT: Ice lilies grow on the edges of mountains. They can, again, be hard to see packed beneath heavy snow. They can survive the very coldest temperatures Ajna has to offer despite their fragile appearance and can also be kept indoors, assuming the environment is cool enough. Ice lilies are actually self-watering due to the ice they encase themselves in and thus does not require much care once planted. ■ RARITY: Fairly common, though the lilies are easy to miss in the landscape and hard to pick once found.
IKROCIA	■ IS IT A THREAT: Edible but dangerous fungus. ■ APPEARANCE: similar in appearance to the lichen, cetraria. ■ PROPERTIES: Ikrocia isn't a plant, it's an fungus found at high altitudes. Measuring at maximum 5 cm/2 inches tall, it peeks and pokes from the cracks in rocks. The species is found with two colorations: a pale, mint green that appears luminous at night and a wilted brown that occurs when the fungus is dying. While edible with both colorations, the more colorful option is only edible for animals. If it were to be ingested by humans or species derived from or similar to humans, it would act as a poison, triggering nausea, vomiting and convulsions and, in more extreme cases, liver failure and death. The fungus is safe for humans to eat when it's brown and dying, however, as the toxins have already been broken down and consumed by the fungus itself. In this event, it can be crushed and consumed. It has a bitter taste and can also be crushed and used medicinally to, ironically, dull stomach pains. ■ ENVIRONMENT: High altitude, between the crevices of rocks. It thrives based on air thinness and wilts when it's lower on the mountain. ■ RARITY: Common, but hard to spot. It is not large and it grows inconsistently, not in gigantic patches. Fields are not possible but polka dots of it are.
NECTBUD	■ IS IT A THREAT: No. ■ APPEARANCE: This plant can grow up to two feet high and the stems are grey-green in colour, and are thick (like this) and tough. It's difficult to cut through, but entirely possible. The roots and stems aren't edible. At the top of the plant, there's a hard shell that looks almost like a flower bud (like this - colours range from vibrant blues to dull greys and off-whites that blend in with its environment) and once broken apart, you can find nectar. It's about the size of a coconut, and has about a cupful of nectar inside. ■ PROPERTIES: This plant is able to produce a very sweet nectar that looks like honey, but tastes even better. It grows in areas where the substance it needs to produce the nectar is underground. The plant sucks the substance up through its roots and through a weird sci-fi chemical process, turns it into the nectar. ■ ENVIRONMENT: These are typically found in valleys and around the bottom of mountains. It doesn't need sun, but it can be found in places where the sun can shine on. It just needs the substance it uses to produce nectar to grow... Don't ask me what the substance is! Because I have no idea. ■ RARITY: Not common, but not rare either. If you look hard enough, it's likely you'll find one sooner than later.
ONWEG	■ IS IT A THREAT: Mildly dangerous if not handled properly, but not mobile. ■ APPEARANCE: Small clusters of blue, three-petaled flowers growing from one stem. The stem is covered in thorns and it, plus the leaves at the base are all covered in a clear, sticky secretion. ■ PROPERTIES: The clear, sticky stuff is a mild emetic. Sucks if you're trying to find food, but it could come in handy if someone ate something they shouldn't have. The petals of the flower can be boiled to make a sweet-tasting tea. You know, so long as there's none of the other gunk on them. ■ ENVIRONMENT: It flourishes in places where local fauna can't get to it and the air is thin. So places with high altitudes are more likely to have it than places at sea-level. ■ RARITY: Fairly common around the places it can grow. They don't spread like dandelions, but they're not four leaf clovers either.
PHOTOHIVE	■ IS IT A THREAT: Not by itself, but it's never quite by itself. ■ APPEARANCE: An enormous, mixed white and sky blue tree-like structure which looks as if it grows outward in layers. ■ PROPERTIES: The photohive is a fungal tree has evolved into a symbiotic relationship with photodrones, a separate species of animal. It gains photosynthetic energy from its drones in exchange for various chemical processing services, and grows fruits to spread its seeds. It often forms the center of an ecosystem, much like coral. ■ ENVIRONMENT: It lives in icy and rocky areas, generally mountainous zones prone to snowstorms. ■ RARITY: Remarkably common towards the more northern latitudes of the planet, but exceedingly rare in the more southern areas. However, they are generally solitary - finding a forest of fungal trees is exceedingly rare.
SNAP VINES	■ IS IT A THREAT: Not unless ingested. ■ APPEARANCE: A leafy vine that produces small, dark red berries. ■ PROPERTIES: The vine itself rapidly stiffens and becomes brittle once grown, but continues to produce leaves and berries; it makes a sharp snapping sound when broken. The berries themselves are sweet, but also very slightly toxic and mildly addictive when eaten in small quantities. When eaten in large quantities or over over long periods of time the addiction and toxicity become severe. Native herbivores can be observed gorging themselves on snap vine berries and subsequently dying at the foot of the plant. They then serve as fertilizer for both the vine and the host tree. Respiratory paralysis is the primary effect of the toxins. ■ ENVIRONMENT: Snap vines only grow in the warmest of Ajna's climates, and only on trees and the occasional bush. ■ RARITY: Semi-rare; They can be found on 1 in every 5-8 trees, I'm thinking.
SLUD	■ IS IT A THREAT: To non-native species of Ajna, yes. To the residents of this planet, it is quite harmless. ■ APPEARANCE: Long, thin strips of ice. In really bad weather, Slud are practically indistinguishable from the terrain. ■ PROPERTIES: Allergic reactions go up for non-Ajna species when in direct contact with this plant, but nothing fatal. Apart from that, they are a pain in the ass to clean up. When they melt/die they leave behind a solid white gunk that is difficult to remove and would likely damage equipment if left too long to accumulate. Great care has to be exercised in removing it by heat or other means. Do not handle with bare skin. Has a lifespan of maybe 2 - 3 Ajna days. ■ ENVIRONMENT: It can be found almost everywhere in the planet, except in extremely cold areas, growing like weed. ■ RARITY: Common. There are some growing on the mountains and cliffs, but only on the base.
THOUSAND-YEAR FINGERS	■ IS IT A THREAT: Yes. The seed pods explode. ■ APPEARANCE: Surprisingly, it's not a climbing plant but a tree. The shape and flexibility are a little like a willow, and its leaves are a deep blue shot through with white. The branches are weighed down with both snow (it could be mistaken for a large animal at a distance) and large dark seed pods. ■ PROPERTIES: The seed pods need extreme temperatures to crack, and when they go they go with a boom: the 'Thousand-Year' part of the moniker comes from the fact that the necessary temperatures are said to be reached only once every millennium (this may or may not be an exaggeration). The force can send the seeds flying at some impressive (and sometimes fatal) speeds. The inside of the seed pods is packed with tiny fibers that cause itching and get absolutely everywhere. The seeds themselves are edible, though (make sure to wash thoroughly), and the seed oil you can get from them makes a nice, fragrant addition to a meal. ■ ENVIRONMENT: Most of the specimens on Ajna are pretty vast and old. They tend to grow in lower elevations by sources of (frozen) water. ■ RARITY: They're pretty rare, and trees are usually freestanding; it's pretty rare (and unlucky) to find groves of them.