Iron Oak Tree

The Ironoak tree is a tree native to Khusan. They come from the Ironoak Timberlands and are extremely tough and durable. They are used by the Dwarves in their construction because it tends to prevent cave-ins as the wood does not bend or break with extreme force.
The trees appear similar to an Oak tree but are thicker and look grey. Their leaves are a dull green colour. Ironoaks have many gnarled branches that twist and turn with age.
Ironoak trees are extremely tough to cut down and tend to blunt the axes used to fell them. As such, Ironoak harvesting is a costly and time consuming task, so that this extremely sought after wood is sold for quite high prices.
The sap, known as Irongum, is also collected by Sappers, this sap is magic in nature and provides a small increase in muscle strength when the bitter-sweet substance is chewed on.

Basic Information

Biological Cycle

These trees are barely affected by the changing seasons, as they survive with foliage even through the harshest of Winters. The sap of the tree, however, does not leak from the trunk during Winter as it does the other seasons.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The wood is used for construction and is incrediby durable albeit heavy. This makes it a great trading material with other settlements and nations, although due to the difficulty in cutting it down, replanting it and then transporting it, the wood is very expensive.
The Irongum that the tree produces is a widespread good throughout Khusan, oftentimes being used as an ingredient in strength increasing potions and stoneskin potions.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Ironoaks are found almost exclusively in the Ironoak Timberlands and in Northern parts of Khusan. They are protected by Dûrandur's Lumber guilds and the key to germinating their seeds is a well kept secret kept safe from outsiders.

Conservation Status

The Dwarves appreciate Ironoak for it's use in construction but it isn't neccessary for their homes, as such they didn't care much for sustaining the population. However, the lumbering guilds nearby realised the potential value in trade and have since been very careful with replanting Ironoaks and ensuring that only safe amounts of deforestation occurs. It takes a long time for Ironoaks to regrow and the guilds take extra care to ensure that they have a steady growth-harvesting pattern.