Jack Sandrow
Writer, Character, Invasive Species
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To add a fungus with some economical benefits to the ecology of Yavin 4
- Image Credit: MSU
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Corn smut
- Name: Leniver frutentia
- Origins: Yavin 4
- Other Locations: N/A
- Classification: Fungi
- Average Growth Cycle: The spores of the plant can remain viable for up to 7 years. From infection to full fruiting body takes one week, longer if the strain of plant is resistant to it.
- Viability: The fungi requires a cereal-type plant to parasitize. It infects the ovary cells of the plant, adjusting the physical shape and proteins within for its own benefit. If any step of this process is interrupted, it cannot continue, and remains dormant. It has a larger viable biome, but needs to exist within the same biome as its plant host.
- Description: The spores of L. frutentia are microscopic, but the developing and developed bodies exaggerate the characteristics of the plant it is parasitizing. Yellow and green bodies expand and distort to purplish and dark reddish shapes. The flavor is mealy and somewhat spicy, with some chewy overtones.
- Average Height: 32.9 μm (plant host varies)
- Average Length: 32.9 μm (plant host varies)
- Color: N/A (plant host varies)
- Nutritional Value: Yes; high-protein, high-sugar content, perfect to bolster rations or add to nutritional benefits. If spoiled, can still be mixed in with agricultural fodder as silage.
- Toxicity: Mild: increased consumption can result in mild allergenic reactions, but none of it is lethal.
- Other Effects: None
- Distinctions: None; care must be taken not to introduce this to an uninfected crop unintentionally. Spreading across an entire crop can take only a week.
- High protein & sugar content makes it very useful as a meal additive
- High adaptability to plant hosts allows it to be used on any cereal crop that exists within a similar biome.
- Requires a plant host to be viable - it cannot create any food on its own.
- Overpreparation of the crop makes it useless as any normal food.
- Cannot survive outside of its natural biome.
A basic fungi on Yavin 4, it has been partially cultivated to add to cereal crops to give a more rounded diet. For some it is an acquired taste, for others it is extremely sweet & chewy. Care must be taken to not allow any infected crop to get into any other produce unintentionally. However, if that spoils even further, it can still be reused for livestock fodder.
