Maze Pine

Maze pines are the most plentiful and common tree species on Maloruno. They dominate the maze forests covering the two continents of the planet.

Anatomy

Maze pines are evergreen, coniferous trees, that grow to about 10 - 12 metres in height.

The bark of maze pines are incredibly thick, upwards of 6cm. This bark is more fragile than one would expect, any person would be able to rip off large chunks.

The leaves of maze pines are referred to as needles. These needles are thin and sharp, and grow to about 10cm. They are often a greenish colour, but can come in other colours such as red, orange, brown, and a bluish green. These needles are bundled together on branches in fasicles, with up to 10 needles per fasicle. Maze pine seeds are actually found embedded inside the needles, and when eaten the seeds are defecated, which allows them to spread.

Location

Maze pines are found across the planet, on both continents, or Hemispheres - the Northern Hemisphere, inhabited by white tigers, and the Southern Hemisphere, inhabited by runos. Maze pines are the most widespread tree species, thriving in the cold-but-not-freezing climate most common on Maloruno.

Plentiful Food Source

As an incredibly common tree, it is eaten by a whole range of herbivores. The needles grow high up however, which means only the tallest of creatures can eat them. Rune deer are the most common creature to consume maze pine needles, as they are the tallest land animal on the planet. They are therefore the main reason for the spread of maze pines, as the seeds inside the needles are not digested, but rather excreted in the animal's faeces and start to grow, several hours after the animal has moved on.

Ereberries

Ereberries are a type of epiphyte that grows on the trunks and bark of maze pines. Ereberries have a mutualistic relationship with the maze pines: The trees provide a place to grow and spread, while the ereberries deter away animals. Ereberries cause hallucinations and pure, endless rage in those that eat them, and this stops animals from eating them and the maze pines. This is particularly effective against rune deer.

Noble Maze Pines

Noble maze pines are a special subspecies of maze pine that rarely grow. They are ten times the size of a regular maze pine, around a hundred feet tall, and stand out in the maze forests. Because of their size, they are the only tree that can support the mighty nests of maze hawks, the largest bird species on the planet. These magnificent birds of prey have a wingspan of about thirty feet, and can lift rune deers off of the ground and place them onto the nests, another reason why they can only nest on noble maze pines.

Average Height

10 - 12 metres

Geographic Distribution

Etymology

Maze pines are named after the way they grow in the ground. Regardless of where their seeds landed or were planted, maze pines will always grow directly north, east, south, or west of each other. This forms giant mazes, best seen in the maze forests that literally coat the planet.