Kalai flowers

Kalai flowers are plentiful and small wildflowers that grow along the southern shores of Leaait, where temperatures are more temperate compared to deep into the deserts. While Leaait is the main growing environment for kalai flowers, some related flowers such as the kintha and the kiala flowers, grow in Xzon and Endref.
Kalai flowers grow in small clusters near the soil, with the primary stems kinked and branching in my directions. The root system of the flower matches the stem, growing in exactly parallel patterns within the soil or sand (it remains unclear whether the stem or the root grows first, or if they grow in perfect parallel). A single kalai flower plant can take up as much ground space as five people standing shoulder to shoulder, though the height of the kalai flower does not exceed the height of an average shoe. Because of the limited height of the plant, and the parallel growing features between the roots and the plant itself, the kalai flower is able to grow in shallow soil and so kalai flower colonies have been known to grow on rock faces or in particularly sandy areas. 
The shallow nature of the kalai root enables the plant to absorb water quickly when it rains. The root of the plant have large pores which open and fill with water, trapping it inside and giving the roots a boil-like appearance during and after a rainfall. The plant will then absorb this water from its furthest points to the closest to the stem base, prolonging its own watering cycle. This pore system also includes a thin member coating, and through chemicals produced by the plant, salt is separated from the water within the roots. Rather than expel the salt, the kalai flower slightly re-liquefies and concentrates the salt into the flowers, making them brittle but allowing the flower to kill pollinating insects. Because the kalai flower self-propagates through child plants and seed pods, it has no direct need for pollination and it is therefore advantageous to kill the insects which could help spread other flowers that will compete for space nearby.
The concentration of salt within the kalai flower means that the plant has to produce excess dye (pulled from carbon in the soil) to create rich pigmentation to attract insects. As such, many kalai flowers are very deep and rich hues, making them attractive to humans as well. However, kalai flowers are quite small, often reaching the same size as pinky finger nail when at full bloom. The flowers, which have seven curved, triangular petals that radiate away from a black centre, bloom nearly all year round due to the climate and weather in Leaait (which includes an abundance of sun).
Despite the dangers of Leaait, kalai flowers are highly valuable due to the hold-fast properties that they add to ink made with them. Given that the flowers often grow close to the shore, many of those that collect the flowers jump into shallow waters off of their boats and collect the flowers (and parts of the plant) with broad knives and scythes, trying to cut and collect as many as possible without walking into Leaait. Kalai flowers are also valued for their aesthetic value, given that keeping a kalai flower intact (as opposed to ground to a powder) is extremely difficult and often requires persistent maintenance. Very rich individuals in Endref will occasionally make jewellery out of kalai flowers after having them either preserved in amber or glued together permanently with resins mixed with precious metals.