Trigger Weed

One of the non-fishing industries to eek out a living along the rocky and wet coast of the Rothnar Ocean is the collection and harvest of Fathom Fire. A by product of a unique breed of kelp know as Trigger Weed or Water Bomb, it is found in the long bulbous tip that provides buoyancy and suspends it above the rest of the sea floor, and allows the longer tendrils along the length of the trunk to reach higher up in search of food. As a carnivorous plant, it has developed a symbiotic relationship with many of the under sea scavengers that prowl the rocky waters. Anchored to a large rock, the Trigger Weed grows a spiky gas filled bulb to float it’s long narrow body upwards. Tendrils that grow along the main support stock use smaller bulbs to create buoyancy and allow for its primary feeding activity.
When brushed or distrubed the tendrils will instinctively wrap around whatever has triggered it, vent their small gas bulbs and drag the prey down to the base of the plant. Trigger Weed has no mouth to speak of, but it's root structure is an exposed lattice of capillaries that can easily capture surprisingly large pieces of food in it's web-like network thus allowing it to feed over time as the food continues to break down.  It is quick growing and the exposed root structure can stretch out for several yards in all directions by the time it is fully grown. Often Trigger Weeds will work in concert together with overlapping root bases in a communal effort to bring more food down to their rocky base.
Horned Crabs  and other sea scavengers such as Rock Jaw and starfish and urchins congregate around Trigger Weeds and actually assist with the process of breaking down the captured food. Rock Jaws and Horned Crabs are notoriously violent feeders and the debris of their frenzied feasting, rapidly increases the breakdown of food to sizes that the roots can begin to make use of. One of its more unique features porous holes in the root that allow for small bits of biological matter to enter in and continue the decomposition process inside the base of the plant. Gasses produced from this process are then channeled to the tentacle bulbs and the main bulb at the top of the stalk. It is from this portion of the plant that Fathom Fire is harvested.