Greencap

Greencap (also known as Wodohr's Crown) is a unique species of plant-like lichen found in the dense forests of central Orithe and western Aezoth. It is identifiable by its pale green leaf-like thalli, which grow into their host. This organism then uses the host as a substrate, infusing it with its signature green hue. As the lichen takes over, it draws other plants to it, forming a verdant wreath of greenery about the head, shoulders, and chest of its host.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Greencap lichen is a mutualistic symbiotic organism composed of both fungal and algal components. Identifiable as a pale green leaf-like structure, greencap grows rapidly, usually on the scalp, shoulders, neck, and upper chest of the host. The soft texture and high level of chlorophyll in the thallus allows the organism to absorb and process light energy through photosynthesis, forming a mutualistic symbiosis in both host and symbiont. The host provides a substrate for the lichen to grow and spread, while the lichen provides the host with additional essential nutrients as it collects native flora.

Genetics and Reproduction

Greencap reproduces through vegetative reproduction after finding a suitable host. It is worth noting that the exact details of greencap's reproductive process are still largely unknown. The exact mechanism by which greencap selects its hosts is also yet unknown. symbiosis appears more commonly in forest animals and minor sentyae than in the mortal races (major sentyae). A popular theory among scholars links greencap receptiveness to unique properties in the host's skin or hair or blood, depending on the school. Both ancient and contemporary shamanic and spiritual explanations attribute the blessing of Wodohr's Crown with a person's innate affinity for nature and/or nature-aligned gods.

Green Elk by Hauntogram

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

While the greencap itself exhibits no observable indications of sentience, its ability to harbor other flora can have a dramatic impact on the perceptual and sensory functions of the host. Indigenous cultures in both the Greenbelt and the Alkumlands, observe the practice of floramancy, which involves the use of greencap lichen and psychoactive plants to enhance or otherwise alter the sensory acuity and perception of the host.