Murna Acacia
Racial Magic
First Ability
Mpertem's Aura
Can generate temporary emotions or states related to Mpertem, imparting motivation, vigor, joy and general euphoria in those that eat its legumes. The same effect can be extracted from its sap as gum or by eating it's leaves.
Second Ability
☀️Rithaldis' Touch
Can afflict ionizing radiation via touch, the longer this contact occurs the more intense and pervasive this radiation is. This effect is concentrated in its thorns, the longer a grazer continues to touch them, the more radiation is released.
Ilnid's Skin
Able to generate a layer of or convert their bark and thorns into sand or glass, differing by individual. Only converts the outermost layer but can also build up layers and expand this around them in different shapes. Used defensively against unwanted grazers but also as protection from sandstorms.
Kalitho's Aura
Able to summon or generate visible light in various ways, crafting optical illusions, changing colors or shining brightly. Many Acacia craft imitations of themselves, small illusory forests confusing unwanted grazers. It can also glow or mask itself entirely. It is said the older these trees become, the more complex their illusions
♨️Emryl's Shield
Immune to negative effects and/or damage from all heat magic and naturally occurring heat. Totally heatproof!
This is one of the most widespread trees across Alkelbulan and it's secondary racial magic can vary depending on region. It is a dominant species in the Nyasi za Rangi, important as a source of food to both domesticated and wild animals. It possesses edible legume pods and is armed with dramatic thorns. The pods are highly desired, it's first racial magic imparting Mpertem's Aura to the fruit. This invigorates the consumer and imparts general euphoria.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Murna Acacia is a thorny legume tree, it's size depentant on its environment. In dryer habitats it usually grows to about 4-8 m (16-26 ft) but is capable of growing to 20 m (65 ft) in wetter locations. It stands out thanks to its signature spreading crown, umbrella like and flat. Its leaves are compound, 6-22 pairs of leaflets which are 1-4 mm long, smooth and fuzzy.
by Lee Stepp
Very distinct thorns protect its leaves, either straight and long or shorter and hooked. Leaflets are actually smaller than these thorns. Its flowers are white, cream or yellow and highly aromatic. These flowers cluster into 1 cm diameter round heads, prolific blooms of up to 400 flowers a twig. The legumes are spirally twisted, ranging from 8 to 22 cm long.
Original Ancestor
Umbrella Thorn Acacia
Lifespan
Height
Coloration
Genetics and Reproduction
by Lee Stepp
This Acacia is grown from seed. Pods can be collected by shaking them from the canopy. A mature tree can produce over 6000 pods, each containing 8-16 seeds. They can be extracted by pounding pods with a mortar. The seed coat is hard and the seeds are viable for several years if kept cool and dry. Germination can be triggered by scarification or soaking them in boiling water until the water cools. Seeds are then planted 1 cm deep. It grows slowly at first but quickens once roots have reached a water source. Wild seeds germinate best after passing through the stomach of a Raqs Gazelle, these two species symbiotic.
Ecology and Habitats
by Lee Stepp
An ubiquitous and iconic tree of Alkelbulan, these adaptable trees can be found in Shamsi Desert, Arabiyyan Desert, Balkurtiz, Kna'an, Kemet, Arya, Dawn Ahrayn, Gaarreen Ho'aa, KwaZulu, and especially Nyasi za Rangi. They grow best in areas with temperatures between 0-50 C (32-122 F) and rainfall ranging from 100-1000 mm (3.9-39.4 in) per year. It can grow on sand dunes, rocky scarps and valley bottoms but isn't tolerant of waterlogged soil. This is a very drought resistant species, including dry seasons lasting 1-12 months. It prefers alkaline soils but is capable of withstanding saline soils too. It does well in arid biomes thanks to its deep tap root, running as deep as 35 m (115 ft) in sandy soils, reaching water unavailable to other species. Even in shallow soil it can develop subsurface roots stretching out to more than twice the width of the crown. Older trees can also withstand frost and light grass fires.
Biological Cycle
by Lee Stepp
Leaves are shed in the summer and blooms from April to December, mainly in autumn. The flowers are yellowish, arranged densely in a small ball. The fruit is a springy and curled rosy white legume.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
by Lee Stepp
In the pastoral societies of Alkelbulan every part of this tree is used and cutting them down is considered taboo, the trees almost sacred. It is considered a symbol of perseverance. Flowers provide a source of quality honey and it's legumes are edible, invigorating those who eat it. Nilots will eat the immature seeds or make them into porridges. These legume pods are also useful as feed for animals, often fed to lactating mammals to increase milk yield. They are more digestable if milled. They are commonly sold in Alkelbulian markets, especially in the Gaarreen Ho'aa. Parts of the tree also have medicinal uses, leaves bark seeds and red gum counted among these. Its frequently given to those with melancholy or chronic pain. The bark has even been found to have uses in treating asthma.
Tannin can be extracted from the bark while inner bark can be used for cordage. Locals make use of even the thorns for enclosures and livestock pens while roots are used to construct nomadic huts by the Soomaalida and Fulbe. Its dense, red wood makes for good charcoal and fuel wood, burning slowly and producing little smoke when dry. It is used for poles of huts and for tools, durable if water-seasoned. The tree will readily respout if coppiced, managed in this way for fuel in more forested biomes of the Highlands. Other uses for the wood include furniture, wheels, fence posts, cages and pens. It is also the exclusive wood used by the Yehudim in constructing their mishkan.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
by Lee Stepp
These trees are an integral part of its ecosystems, providing both food and shade. To evade overgrazing, they are very thorny especially around outer leaves. The Shamsi Camel has developed tough lips in order to bipass these thorns and Gazhaal al-Raqs eat fallen fruits, their digestive system helpful in germinating the seeds. It is believed the joy magic in the fruit is meant to encourage grazers to consume its fruit while other variants utilize magic to enhance their thorns.
by Lee Stepp
Many of these trees have a symbiotic relationship with a species of stinging ants which makes their nests in their hollow thorns and eat the nectar in their flowers. This is another defense against over grazing.
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