Ooshum Plants

5 Banthum ȊɄӁӁɄ
It is with great pleasure that I write in my personal journal that we're to receive a shipment tomorrow containing numerous specimen of interest from the Karnavora region. Of the various plants and animals species coming in for research, I am most excited for the ooshum. Well... the flowers on its back, I suppose. The ooshum is an elemental beast of sorts. It's quadrupedal with large forelegs and smaller back legs. The whole creature is seemingly composed of plant material, but because it isn't "planted," it packs dirt and soil onto its body as a means to gain nutrients. I don't think the Institute has been this abuzz with excitement since we got our very first samples from Lush.
I know for a fact that Marius will be delighted to have an ooshum lumbering around the Biomeosphere! I can barely contain my delight as well. Creatures that blur the lines between flora and fauna have always piqued my interest the most. And to think, we'll have one in full bloom as well! I heard from Prof. Humphreys that this particular ooshum is hosting waneflower!
We're all very acquainted with herbs and other flora used in potions and the like. But a natural method of enhancing the potency of waneflower and it's healing effects simply by growing it on the back of an ooshum... I can't even fathom. We have a way of cultivating waneflower in Citramaria without needing Karnavora... That's a lot to think about.
I've heard that the cyan color of ooshum-grown plants is magnificent. It's bright like a blue candle against the night. Maybe we'll get to see the ooshum move around its habitat at nighttime with a glow like that. Supposedly the plants retain that cyan glow after being picked as well. I'm pretty sure Marius likes blue.
Anyways, I suppose I'll wrap up here. I've got to get some sleep while I can. I'll already be awake longer than usual with all the butterflies in my stomach. This is an opportunity to rise and shine. I can earn my specialization, make a name for myself. I got this.
-Dr. Caskaria Mourncut, Gustveil Institute of Flora & Fauna

Basic Information

Anatomy

The physical design of any ooshum plant hardly deviates from its baseline variant. In fact, the only thing that changes about any ooshum plant is its coloration. While most will maintain their primary coloration, every species gains a sort of neon-like cyan coloration that seemingly highlights or accentuates the plant. The cyan color itself is said to be so bright a shade that some may claim it glows. Others swear the cyan glow pulsates ever so slightly, almost as if in rhythm with the heartbeat of the ooshum upon which it grows.

Genetics and Reproduction

It is assumed that ooshum plant variants come about when an ooshum scoops up soil carrying seeds and packs it onto its body. These seeds then grow from the body of the ooshum, commonly from its back, and progress through their growth stages and reproductive cycles as per usual.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ooshum plant variants progress through their growth stages at a slightly faster rate when growing from an ooshum's back than they might naturally in the ground.

Ecology and Habitats

Only basic grasses, weeds, flowers, and some herbs have been observed to grow from an ooshum. No other plant has been observed as of yet.

Dietary Needs and Habits

It's assumed that, due to the elemental nature of the ooshum, ooshum plants ingrain their roots into the beast itself and derive their nutrients from the ooshum itself or the soil it packs onto its body. Water is likely derived from rainfall as per usual and sunlight is also assumed to be acquired through normal means.

Biological Cycle

Though research is inconclusive as of yet, it's hypothesized that ooshum plant variants, while growing from an ooshum, live longer than the expected lifespan of their baseline kind.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Some plants are simply plants. Lilies might be lilies, roses might be roses. As far as their ooshum variants are concerned, their coloration changes to include the cyan and their smells and flavors are intensified. However, when it comes to plants with herbal uses such as the waneflower which is an integral ingredient for healing potions, the ooshum variant shines. Ooshum waneflowers have a more potent medicinally, ooshum snies have a longer lasting drowsy effect, and the ooshum emacorn's toxicity is tenfold.

Scientific Name

Elementum naturae [plant variant]

Origin/Ancestry

Baseline plant variant

Conservation Status

Ooshum plant variants are admittedly rare, considering their existence is reliant on happenstance. However, given the nature of how they come about, it is not impossible for ooshum plants to be cultivated. The issue is finding an ooshum and domesticating it to some degree. Given the creature belongs to Kingdom Elementum rather than Animalia, the very question of domestication is a highly debated and equally anticipated experiment. That said, the symbiotic nature of the ooshum and whatever plant species that may grow on its back are incredibly rare, even in their native region of Karnavora, and are thusly highly protected. Only three known ooshum reside in Citramaria.