Adfla

Adfla is an important resource for the people of the third moon of Mu Arae b. Used primarily as a construction material, this hardy perennial is prized for it's amazingly fast growth, strength, and ability to germinate and thrive on the moon's harsh surface. Adfla looks like fingers of rock, almost blending in with the soil it sprouts from, with branches that stick out in symmetrical pairs along the length. Each pair is set at 90 degrees to the previous pair, creating an impenetrable barrier when they grow in close proximity.
The plant is used in construction by harvesting the branches and crushing them into a paste, which can then be manipulated in ways akin to handling cement. Harvested branches will regrow from the point they were removed, creating bulbous joints at the regrowth. The joints themselves are tapped by inserting a tube at the cut almost immediately after removing a branch, allowing only 24 hours for regrowth to begin. A thin, sour liquid will flow from the tap once the bulbous joint has formed and this liquid is used in various ways. Drunk neat, it is almost impalatable, though there are no negative effects. Boiled and mixed with sugar the drink takes on a unique taste, compared by some to fermented astringent persimmon. Consuming this beverage causes a mild sensation of well-being that lasts several hours. Adding yeast and allowing the mixture to ferment produces a strong tasting alcohol with powerful narcotic effects, swiftly inducing a long lasting sleep - up to 15 hours with a small dose. For this reason, Adfla alcohol is carefully controlled. The last use of Adfla juice is evaporating the water from it, mixing the resulting paste with soluble nitrogen, and using it on wounds. The healing time of wounds treated this way is greatly reduced, with limited clinical trials showing that a mild cut treated with the paste will heal without scarring in 24 hours.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Grows straight up, perpendicular to the ground. The trunk and branches look like fingers of rock, and are almost as hard. Branches stick out in symmetrical pairs along the length. Each pair is set at 90 degrees to the previous pair. There are no leaves.

Growth Rate & Stages

Grows amazingly quickly. In good conditions a trunk can grow up to two inches a day, with branches growing up to four inches in a day.
The plant will spontaneously grow around existing plants, suggesting a shared root system, though this is not evident if the plant is dug up. Taking a branch and sticking it into soil will also propagate a new Adfla plant.

Ecology and Habitats

The moon of Mu Arae b. Attempts to grow it anywhere else have met with complete failure, suggesting the unique conditions of the Mu Arae system are necessary. Previous studies attempting to grown the plant in a lab simulating the conditions of the moon have also failed.