Name: Gilded Hemp Description: Gilded Hemp, by all means, appears like a slightly broader and taller variant of hemp. The main difference between it and its predecessor is the golden shine that Gilded Hemp gives off. This is due to gold being a part of its composition. Behavior: It behaves like most crops, growing up towards the sky as it absorbs nutrients from the soil. It also requires the soil to require traces of gold within it. Tamability: As a crop, it has no ability to be tamed. It is simply grown by man, its leaves swaying mindlessly to the breeze as it grows. Where is it found?: On farms, typically. Better suited for biomes such as planes. The crop does not survive very well in the wild despite having no natural predators. This is because the soil must contain traces of gold in order for the plants to enrich themselves in such an element. Rarity: It is genetically engineered. Seeds may be purchased in bulk online, but they are not cheap. It is heavily regulated in Civ-space, so little is produced there. Diet/Method of gaining nutrients and energy: Very rich soil and plenty of water. It is recommended to grow them on a world exposed to plenty of sunlight, as well. Products?: All hemp products. It is capable of being used much the same as regular hemp, though all products will shine a golden color. It should be noted that the gold can be extracted from the hemp through smelting, however this will result in the destruction of the crop itself, and any potential products produced from it. Reproduction: The same as its regular predecessor. It is dioecious, that is, two crops cross pollinate. Size: While regular hemp grows around 2-4 meters in height, gilded hemp exceeds this, especially in environments with lower gravity. They may reach anywhere between 3-6 meters in height, though grown in environments with the gravity equal to Earth's moon has resulted in the crop reaching monstrous sizes of up to 11 meters. Weight: Gilded hemp, due to its properties, is much more dense than its predecessor. They often weigh 1.8 times that of regular hemp, due to the heavy gold element within its fibers. Lifespan: They live up to 5 months. Only lasting one standard crop cycle. Abilities: The main difference that sets it apart from standard hemp is the fact that its fibers and composition contain the element Au. That is, the genetically engineered crop produces trace amounts of gold. This amounts to 1.7 ounces of gold per meter of the individual crop's height. Flaws: - Any products from gilded rope that involve smoking it or consuming a component of it in any way will result in the individual taking gold into their own bodies. - The crop requires very rich soil in order to grow properly. This may require proper terraforming and tampering with the soil in order to have the necessary nutrients. Other: While eating parts of it (such as the seeds) will result in the gold passing through the digestive tract harmlessly, excessive smoking of products made from it will result in 'Gilded Lung'. This disorder (which may take multiple months to develop) will result in difficulty breathing, fatigue, and overall lethargy. Treatment may require surgery, and in worse cases may require lung transplants.
