Wilthorne
A species of dryad with traits from trees, wilthornes are easily recognizable by their willow-like hair and wooden horns.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Wilthornes, like many humanoids, maintain a fairly human form, with fairly human-like anatomy. They are entirely hairless, lacking hair on the head and body. Though they are capable of photosynthesis, they use it to supplement their ordinary diet. Wilthornes incapable of photosynthesis, whether due to lack of chlorophyll or lack of sun in their environments, can manage healthy lives but usually need some sort of supplement to their diet.
Though they have no hair, wilthornes grow long slender branches on their heads. These branches are green and flexible, hanging downwards much like hair would, and are adorned with countless leaves. Their hair-branches grow continuously, and their leaves are the only place in a wilthorne's body where chlorophyll naturally forms, allowing them to photosynthesize. Due to their flexibility, the head-branches can be styled somewhat like hair, including being bound into tails or buns. Braiding is difficult if not impossible due to the many leaves, however.
In addition to their hair-branches, wilthornes also grow stiff, proper wooden branches, which resemble horns. Like the hair-branches, these wooden horns grow their entire lives long, but unlike their hair-branches, they also grow thorns. As they age, a wilthornes wooden horns thus grow to resemble antlers, at least visually. The wooden horns are hard and inflexible, and may grow in a variety of shapes, depending on genetics as well as outside influences.
Wilthornes overall have fairly human, fleshy bodies. In select places (which vary per individual but appear to be genetically linked) their soft skin is instead replaced with stiffer wood. These wooden areas grow thorns, with number and size of thorns also depending on genetics.
Besides their branches, both hair-branches and horns, wilthornes have mostly human faces. Their eyes are large and often but not always round in shape, but not extremely so.
Wilthornes have human skintones, although they're typically mid to dark in color, with pale (white) skintones being rare. Their wooden areas (thorns, horns, and to lesser degree, wooden areas) come in a range of brown colors. Eyes are typically green or brown.
Genetics and Reproduction
Wilthornes will reach sexual maturity during puberty, and begin experiencing breeding seasons. Outside of these reproductive periods, they are completely incapable of conceiving, though they may still engage in (and enjoy) sex.
Reproductive season occur annually, and last for several months during spring, although exact times will vary depending on the environment. During the start of spring, wilthornes will begin growing catkins, a process which is paired with increased hormone production and desire for sex. This lasts for the few months of spring, though moments of relief can be gained by sexual satisfaction. At the end of spring, the catkins are dropped, and their hormone balance returns to normal.
Blockers exist, and can be taken during spring to skip the reproductive season. When used, blockers prevent the hormone balance from shifting, and also prevent catkins from growing, acting as a clear signal that the wilthorne in question is not partaking in that breeding season. It is considered unhealthy to skip more than a few breeding seasons in a row, however.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Wilthornes are omnivores, and live off of a highly varied diet. This diet is further supplemented with photosynethesis, which occurs in the many leaves of their hair-branches.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Wilthornes have good eyesight and a keen eye for color. They also have excellent hearing, and use the rustling of leaves as communication within their species. In contrast, their sense of taste is almost non-existent, and their sense of smell very limited (sensitive to flowery smells, but otherwise lacking).
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Wilthornes usually have plant-based family names, with personal names being formed from one or more words joined together. While personal names go first and family names second, they often flip them while interacting with other species, and especially while entering greater galactic society. This habit likely stems from the early days, when people assumed that a wilthornes family name was their given name, and vice-versa, which the wilthornes either didn't think or didn't know to correct.
An example of a wilthorne name is Blankleaf Chrys, whose family name is Chrys, and whose personal name is BlankLeaf. As they live away from their home planet, and never interact with other wilthornes, they always use Chrys as their first (informal) name, and BlankLeaf as a (formal) last name.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Average Height
2.9 - 3.3 m
Comments