Approved Species Spicea fructis

[Jack Sandrow]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To craft a type of plant that can be altered to use in munitions
• Image Credit: Marc Perkins Photography
• Canon: N/A
• Permissions: N/A
• Links: Somewhat based on the 'exploding cucumber' (Wikipedia) and the skungus (Wookieepedia)

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Name: Spicea fructis
• Origins: Felucia
• Other Locations: Variants are found on Endor, Yavin, and other heavily vegetated planets
• Classification: Fruiting vine
• Average Growth Cycle: Approximately 4 months from seed to fully grown; hibernates in the winter.
• Viability: Requires nutrients and sunlight, not dissimilar to other plant species.
• Description: A long green vine with a characteristic thin purple streak along one side, the S. fructis vine also produces spiked fruits. Filled with a mildly explosive chemical, these fruits pop when enough physical force is exerted upon them, performing the dual function of spreading seeds outwards and injuring would-be herbivores. These fruits automatically explode when dried out, dispersing seeds at the end of the growing season.

PHYSICAL INFORMATION

• Average Height:
  • Vine - approx. 9 cm thick
  • Fruit - approx. 4 cm round
• Average Length:
  • Vine - usually between 10-40 meters long
  • Fruit - approx. 5 cm long, with a stem 8-11 cm long
• Color:
  • Vine - green with distinctive purple stripe
  • Fruit - green when unripe, purple when fully ripe
• Nutritional Value: The vine is chewy and reedy, but provides some slight nutritious properties on consumption
• Toxicity: None
• Other Effects: The chemical within the inner fruit has mild explosive properties, but not enough to cause harm in and of itself. The fruit skin is covered in spines that are sharp enough to puncture skin. When combined, they create a fragmenting effect that deals mild injury to offending parties.
• Distinctions: The fruit will not normally explode unless fully ripened and dried out. The fruit may explode if enough force is applied, deterring would-be herbivores.
  • Observation: A slow-motion video of an unripe fruit exploding quite violently

Strengths:

• Spines on the fruit prevent herbivores from attacking an otherwise defenseless vine
• Exploding fruit helps quickly disperse seeds

Weaknesses:

• Once the fruits have exploded, they are open and vulnerable to consumption
• The vines are physically defenseless, other than the fruits, and also vulnerable to consumption

HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Not a particularly noteworthy plant, other than its example of rapid plant motion, the S. fructis vine is best known for its exploding fruit. These fruits pop violently when disturbed (or when dried out), and their seeds then spread over a wide area. Often cultivated for its curiosity factor in the present day, the vine has been used in the past as nutrition supplement.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Jack Sandrow

This looks good!

[APPROVED]