Cobber Cedar
The Cobber Cedar or Cobber Tree is a species of cone-bearing plant found on the planet, askiy most closely resembling a cedar or redwood on Earth. Its lumber and bark are highly prized among the peoples who live in and near its native habitat and among peoples associated through its trade.
The wood of the cobber cedar is like most softwoods until it dries. Once cured, the wood becomes Cobberwood lumber, which is almost as hard as wrought iron and more durable when exposed to the weather.
The bark of the cobber cedar is used for such things as basketry, cordage, ropes, mats, and even some clothing like rain hats. The bark can only be harvested at a certain time of year, when it can be removed in long strips. This must be done with care, as stripping too much bark will kill the tree and turn the wood hard. To prevent this, the harvester should only harvest from trees which have not been stripped before. After harvesting, the tree should not used for bark again, although it may later be felled for wood.
Additional Information
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
There is one type of lichen called rygcrym able to break down the hardened wood of the cobber tree. It is only found in the densest and darkest parts of cobber forests because it is highly sensitive to light. While the more capitalistic Earthlings would find this a threat worthy of elimination, it is a vital part of the forest ecosystem since hardened cobber wood is highly resistant to decomposition and fire. This fungus keeps the cobber forests from becoming gigantic heaps of matter.
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