Nundoleto
"Fiber spikes" are succulents which are commonly used for creating fabrics.
Basic Information
Anatomy
This plant grows in a conical shape with larger, older leaves fanning out to the side.
The leaves are thick, fleshy and pointed. Their surface is coated with wax which gives them a frosted, silvery appearance.
Their edges are serrated and tinted red.
Genetics and Reproduction
Nundoleto plants reproduce asexually. When there are sufficient amounts of water and nutrients, they form offsets which eventually break off and take root elsewhere. The are often transported over long distances by the torrential rain during the Heat Season.
Growth Rate & Stages
New leaves keep growing from the center throughout the plant's lifetime.
Young leaves are soft and contain a creamy pulp. They don't develop usable fibers until their third year.
Leaves between three and five years are sturdy yet flexible, supported by thin and strong fibers. Afterwards, these fibers start to turn brittle and coarse which makes them unattractive for fabric production.
Ecology and Habitats
Their original habitat were the wastelands between the Zugnur and Zugderi Seas. Migrating Rul communities spread them further to the north and later to the east.
By the time of the Final War, nudoleto plants were cultivated on most of Mustik Hamesi. Growing in sparsely populated zones, the wild variants mostly survived the concluding wave of attacks, and they suffered less from the fallout. Still, by storing contaminated rain water, they accumulated dangerous amounts of toxic and mutagenic agents which made them useless for at least eight years.
Additional Information
Domestication
They are frequently cultivated in the transition zones between the fertile regions and the wastelands. Mature leaves are harvested every year, leaving the plants with a naked stem that is not found in wild nundoleto.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Young leaves can be used in salads or vegetable dishes, as well as for making ointments and cosmetics. However, the majority of leaves are harvested when they are older so that the fibers inside can be used for fabric production.
The coarse, brittle fibers of very old leaves are sometimes used for insulating buildings. Finally, the wax is used for various purposes such as waterproofing fabrics, coating medical pills or creating molds for cast metal jewelry.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Smaller insects tend to hide between the sharp-edged, spiky leaves to avoid predators. The bitter wax coating is indigestible for herbivores, which means that few animals feed on these plants.
Lifespan
~ 8 - 12 years
Average Height
~ 2.4 - 3.6 m
Average Diameter
~ 1.2 - 1.8 m
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