Name: Life Trees (Ingenspraegrandisbratus omnes). Typically, each tree has its own name bestowed on it by those who live on the planet it inhabits. Description: Life trees are the largest species of tree to have ever been documented in the galaxy, most being the absolutely massive size comparable to large buildings or even skyscrapers. In fact, there is debate in regards to whether it is a species at all, as a Life Tree is composed of a vast multitude of symbiotic relationships with other organisms. Wherever a Life Tree is, plant life itself flourishes at its apex. This is because the tree itself is composed of a strange stem cell like structure that allows it to biologically connect with most plants, granting it a considerable amount of nutrients, water, and other viral necessities - this causes the plant to grow larger and healthier, and causes the area around even a small root of a Life Tree to become overgrown. Entire forests can be connected to a Life Tree, making it essentially one entire superorganism. The roots of a Life Tree are its most bizarre component other than the tree itself; stretching out for dozens of miles and miles, these extremely thick and durable roots burrow deep into the ground and branch off into much smaller roots, finding their way into seemingly every underground area such as caves, overgrowing it with immense plant life. The sap of a Life Tree is filled with nutrients and special active cells that enhance biological growth and regeneration, making it one of the possibly primary ingredients of the so-called 'healing water'. As such, much of the water near a Life Tree root is healing water, glowing a dim blue from the glowing blue sap of the Life Tree. The wood of a Life Tree is extremely durable and impervious to fire; the bark of the main tree even has structural strength similar to beam impervium, its size, expanse, and hardness making it reasonably impossible to truly kill. Tests even show that a Life Tree could survive a nuclear blast and the fallout afterwards. Though the main tree has extremely thick wood, the roots of the Life Tree are thinner and stronger than most other trees while having mostly the same weight - as such, it can appropriately be cut and utilized for carpentry. Even then, the root would regenerate extremely quickly; a plank sized cut would grow back in a mere week. Behavior: All-year tree. Tamability: N/A Where is it found?: Life Trees are incredibly rare and are ancient, usually the cause of grand forests instead of simply residing them, proceeding almost all life on the planet. Typically, planets containing Life Trees have been colonized by others, especially Florans. The largest Life Tree known is located in the Floran capital of Florus, housing its capital as well as 70% of the plant-life on the planet. Another Life Tree, Yggdrasil, is located on the planet of Haven, its massive roots connecting into Haven City. Rarity: See above. Diet/Method of gaining nutrients and energy: Life Trees, being super-organisms, are essentially self sustaining, producing everything they need from their symbionts who also benefit from the tree's communal resources. One could say a Life Tree forest is the perfect communist regime for plants. Products?: Resilient wood, typically called Vitawood. Thick sap that dissolves in water to create healing water, also working as a medical salve. Any products its symbionts have to offer. Reproduction: It is clear that Life Trees do not reproduce by standard means. They have no need to reproduce as they are essentially immortal and nearly indestructible - as such, nobody knows how Life Trees first began to appear in the galaxy. Certainly hundreds of thousands of years ago. One can take a cutting from a Life Tree, however, and plant it elsewhere, seeding that world with life that will eventually grow to make the world into a veritable garden of eden for plantlife. Size: Extremely large building to skyscraper. Weight: Big. Lifespan: Biological tests ultimately determine that a Life Tree is completely immortal. The symbiont plants, however, still have a limited but increased lifespan. Abilities: Practically indestructible. The only way you're going to kill damage it the most reasonable way would be to glass it, but even then the underground sections would still be alive and it would continue to grow and regenerate. Heating or cooling an entire planet to the point where it cannot sustain life would hamper its growth and kill it in some number of years. Planetbusting its home would also kill it fairly well, though some parts would still live on the bits and pieces and continue to grow. Spreads life like a cancer times ten thousand, but actually good. For nature, anyways. Flaws: None. It's a tree.
