Lumutmerah - the Red Moss
The red moss grows deep within the Mariana Trench. It is revered by the natives for its healing and spiritual properties.
As the plant grows extremely slowly and has been harvested nearly to extinction it is currently used very rarely.
Collecting Lumutmerah is part of a young ones right of passage since the conditions at the depths it grows at are so extreme. In the olden days the quantity brought back would be part of the challenge, but since the Great Dying only a small ceremonial box is given to those attempting the passage into adulthood. The box can hold a patch of up to 2 square centimetres and the collected sample is checked for damage during extraction. Ideally the roots will be intact so that the Lumutmerah can be kept alive for longer.
Once collected it can be used as a paste for healing wounds or as a dried herb for consumption or smoking. In any form it has hallucinogenic qualities that the natives believe allow for communing with the ancestral spirits. Can be deadly if prepared incorrectly or consumed in too high doses.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Moss like in appearance, except for the scarlet red, dark hue. The leaves vary in height - the majority of the growth being 1-2cm, but some sections can go up to 5cm.
Growth Rate & Stages
Lumutmerah grows extremely slowly given the lack of light and cold temperatures at the depths it can be encountered.
Ecology and Habitats
The Red Moss can only survive at the depths it can be encountered today because of its symbiotic relationship with a type of anglerfish. The plant itself attracts a variety of organisms and provides a good cover for the smaller anglerfish males with the growth. The females bio-luminescent lantern like lure provides the light for growth of the plant. The relationship has led to multiple anglerfish sharing the same hunting ground thanks to the abundance of pray, as well as the calming effect from the chemicals released by the Lumutmerah.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Only found in the Mariana Trench.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments