Redcry Liverworts

Basic Information

Anatomy

Like other Liverworts the Redcry is a small shrublike plant that grows similar to a moss. Since they possess no vascular system they don't grow to be large and are strictly confined to the banks of the river. They grow medium, flat, leaf-like appendages, these appendages are covered in small bioluminescent pouches, these bioluminescent pouches are filled with a toxic material that glows from the excess of certain absorbed minerals. The also grow a small flower like appendage on a stalk. This flower acts as a sensory organ.

Ecology and Habitats

Redcry Liverworts are a subspecies of the Liverwort plant. Where the normal Liverworts prefer damp and shaded areas such as cave mouths the Redcry Liverworts have evolved to excel in the full darkness of the cave system of the Leaking Caverns. Still requiring water the live, they only grown along the river that traverses through the Caverns.

Dietary Needs and Habits

These plants have developed a reliance on the presence of the river to provide most of the nutrition they need to survive in the cave. That being said the nutrition that they are missing is made up by the various insects attracted to their bioluminescent poison pouches. When the insects drink the poison they die and the body drops the the foot of the plant and as the insect decomposes they provided the missing nutrient the plant needs.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The flower stalk appendage acts as a sensory organ that can sense changes in atmosphere pressure and vibrations. The plant uses this to detect prey and predators. When the plant detects something a reaction takes place in the bioluminescent  pouches. The color the luminescent changes color depending on what the plant senses, reflecting an increase in the toxicity of the luminescent. When the plant detects bugs and other prey the luminescent is a blue-green reflecting least toxicity. When is senses humanoid presence the luminescent becomes a bright pink, reflecting increased toxicity in the pouches. When the plant senses the opening of a portal or an extra-dimensional presence the luminescent turns blood red, reflecting the highest toxicity it can manage.

Geographic Distribution

• The Leaking Caverns