Prototaxite

Prototaxites are the primary "flora" filling in the green belts of Felth. They are massive pillars of fungus and symbiotic algae that thrice in the humid, rotting climes of the balmy zones that flank Felth's sandy equator.

Basic Information

Anatomy

There are many, many different kinds of prototaxite, though the general term refers to any of the spongy, towering arboreal forms that resemble terrestrial trees, but are made wholly of fungal tissue.
The most common kind sport a latticed outer shell of harder mycelial tissue that digs deep into the soil to the hold the entire fungus’ fruiting body upright. This lattice fills with fruiting tissue, which varies from species to species, but generally consists of soft mass filled with spores, which will then be launched as it dries and spills from the latticed openings.
Other kinds resemble standard mushrooms, topping by gigantic puffballs that explode into massive bursts of spore culture once fruiting season begins.
Coloring can also vary vastly, though purples, pinks, and greens are the most common colors, the actual flesh depending on what kind of cell cultures the Prototaxite may or may not harbor with it’s cellular walls.

Ecology and Habitats

Prototaxites require a moist and warm environment to thrive in, making the warm, hot belts of land flanking the equator a perfect place for them to shed their spores. That isn’t to say they cannot grow in other environs; the hard scaled bodies of some types of Prototaxite have been known to even grow within the edges of the central deserts, or even in the colder reasons closer to the planet’s caps.

Biological Cycle

Prototaxites have a fairly simple life cycle, starting as a spore, growing into a soft bodied sapling, before developing the hard shelled out body needed to support itself until it can grow into a full sized plant, though there are certainly variations from the norm.
Fruiting behavior usually begins one to two years after growth begins; depending on the specific species, the Prototaxite will produce a fruiting body / fruiting tissue on a regular cycle, filling the air high volumes of spores.
Due to the high number of spores that are produced, the green belts often have weather patterns entirely based on the fruiting seasons of Prototaxites. Generally this fruiting season begins late spring and continues all the way into early fall, during which the air swirls with spore storms, complete with rain, thunder, and lighting.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Prototaxites can be a solid source of lumber and other building material, though it really depends on the species. Certain species are also bioluminescent, either within the fruiting body or central trunk, or within the spores themselves. This behavior isn’t entirely understood, but it is thought it helps certain insects locate and spread the specific Prototaxite’s spore cultures. Either way, this does mean that certain species do make for solid sources of light if enough are collected.
The soft inner flesh of some species also makes for good food, being high in cellulose material and somewhat higher in protein than plant matter. Others can be incredibly toxic, and it is wise to have a seasoned chef identify what is and is not edible.
Prototaxite spores are occasionally collected and used as a form of flour; however, the allergenic and occasionally toxic properties caused by cross contamination makes this a practice found in only a select few communities.

Scientific Name

Prototaxite

Origin/Ancestry

Fungus / Symbiotic Algae

Conservation Status

Prototaxites are so prolific and varied that there may very well be endangered or extinct species, but it would be impossible to know with how dangerous some of them can be.