Luminaris Elenus (Elena's Lantern Tree)

Luminaris Elenus (Elena's Lantern Tree) is gleamatrophic plant found throughout the southern region of Stinnera, it is tree-like in appearance but doesn't have leaves making it appear skeletal. On the ends of the branches, gall like growths called lantern fruits occur that are filled with a latex like fluid that is a byproduct of the plant's gleamatrophic process. These growths glow softly when exposed to a certain level of background gleam, attracting creatures that are used to help spread the seeds of Luminaris Elenus which grow in buds on the main body of the plant; this soft glowing is the primary form of light naturally found in the eternal night of south Stinnera outside of the moon and aurora.
Uses in Stinneran society:
Luminaris Elenus has a variety of uses, the most obvious one being a source of stable lighting with them being grown in the smaller settlements in the south to act as alternatives to the lamp posts used in the larger settlements. Additionally the body of the plant can be used as fuel for cooking or heating, or as timber for construction. The fluid found within the lantern fruits can be treated to created a waterproof rubber-like substance that is often used as a sealant or in certain clothing, or in it's natural form in various herbal remedies as a mild pain killer. It is unknown if ingesting the fluid has any adverse affects apart from it's ability as a pain killer.

See also: Gleamatroph