Cracked Jewel

The cracked jewel is a species of succulent found in the Scarlet Sands desert, in the northeast of the DSRR. It is most notable for being a hyperaccumulator of iron. 
==Description==
Above ground, the cracked jewel has tightly packed fleshy leaves that help it conserve moisture while still receiving sunlight. The majority of the plant, however, lies beneath the surface. The bulb has a veined surface that resembles a cracked mineral, which gives the plant its name. The bulb contains a node of iron, which accumulates from the iron-rich soil. This node helps the plant avoid an over-absorption of this iron. The roots are numerous but short. 
==Distribution==
The cracked jewel is native to the Scarlet Sands desert, and is found almost nowhere else. Plants are typically evenly distributed across an area, several sextants away from one another. 
==Uses==
The cracked jewel is nearly always completely inedible, and few of the plant's parts have other uses. However, the node of iron it accumulates over time is an easily-exploitable source of raw iron. Mining companies, especially in the Drataburg area, have developed very productive systems to harvest the cracked jewel for its iron-rich nodes. 
Category:Flora and Fauna