Glombar Trees

Glombar trees *(Megalorepens vitrafolium)* are one of the most prolific types of trees on Sovereign and have adapted to a wide range of biomes and climes. They are both predatory and migratory, which are traits not found in trees on Earth but were once common adaptations on Sovereign in its distant past. As such, Glombar trees are classified as ‘living fossils’, much like the coelacanth on Earth. They have survived, relatively unchanged apart from minor speciation, for over 300 million years. They can grow extremely large, with some specimens having been measured at over two hundred feet in height.

The main trunk of a Glombar tree is comprised of several dozen interlocking vines or shoots that twist together as they grow. As they rise up the tree, they become encased in calcium that is leeched from the air and groundwater, giving them natural armor in the form of tough, bone-like bark. These trunks are inflexible and hard, very similar to tigerwood on Earth. Below the ground, however, the roots are exposed and flexible, with a system very similar to musculature. It is this adaptation that allows the Glombar tree to uproot itself and move from place to place before replanting its own roots. These appendages also possess small ampullae that function similar to those in Earth sharks (Ampullae of Lorenzini). These minute electroreceptors allow it to detect fluctuations in the magnetic fields below the ground. Since much of Sovereign’s surface contains magnetite or similar magnetic materials (and large amounts of neodymium deeper down), they can detect underground liquid deposits where the magnetic fields are different than the surrounding rock.

Sovereign's broken moon, Dominance, still has enough gravitational influence to draw on the tides beneath the planet. As such, the tides tend to move in a circular motion around the equatorial band, much like they do on Earth, but in subterranean deposits, oceans, lakes and similar features. Although there are a few surface liquid sites, most notably the river system known as the Tears of Lekramia and its central lake, over 95% of Sovereign’s liquid deposits are beneath the surface. As such, being able to follow the slow tidal bulge offers the Glombar trees a unique evolutionary advantage. Often, whole forests of Glombar trees will migrate together as mobile forests; whole walking ecosystems that traverse the planet. This can heavily affect ground-based trade routes across the planet, so the migratory patterns of the Glombar trees are monitored closely by the Heil. Secondary and even tertiary routes, as well as both underground and airborne routes, have been implemented to keep the wandering trees from interfering with trade between Clans and Guilds.

Above their hardy trunks and mobile roots, Glombar trees display two more advantageous adaptations. The upper portion of the trees, akin to the canopy of most Earth-based trees, is comprised of dozens of tightly packed bulbous leaves that trap moisture and focus sunlight to maximize photosynthesis. When removed from the tree, these dry out very quickly and become glassy and hard while retaining their initial colors (which vary from region to region). This gives the tree a similar overall morphology similar to cauliflower or broccoli stalks, albeit in a variety of transparent, gem-like colors. Beneath these, however, dangle several vines which each end in a seed pod.

Glombar trees also share a predatory—if not parasitic—relationship with the Sovereign wasps *(Volucexero sublimis)*. During the warmer seasons, Glombar trees will use the pod-like structures to attract these glittering insects. The smell wafting from them has no effect on most lifeforms on Sovereign, but it smells distinctly like the hives of the wasps. As such, they will deposit their eggs into the pods instead of into the actual nests. Over time, the Glombar tree pods will implant a parasitic egg into the larvae of the wasp and will also feed them with simple sugars and pollen solutions that are produced through photosynthesis. Glombar trees also have been shown to be able to slow or delay the hatching of the larvae.

When the time comes, usually at the end of the warm season, the Glombar tree will drop the pods from the vines, breaking them open on the ground and releasing their parasite-infused occupants. Larva born from this union will quickly develop their wings and fly away but will die prematurely as the seed inside them leeches away their bodies. When they do eventually perish, their bodies drop to the ground and continue to provide sustenance for the seed until it takes root. As such, the Glombar tree seeds have been given the nicknames of “crawling seeds” or “flying seeds”, depending on which state they are found in. They are also sometimes called “plant leeches”.

Glombar wood was used in antiquity by the Heil as a main building material and resource, as it is quite hard and also good at insulating. The tough, bone-like bark protects a spongy, flexible tube of plant fibers which works remarkably well for maintaining temperature. After being cut, the wood must be quickly shaped, or it will dry out and become rigid. This makes it difficult, if not impossible to work with. The reapplication of moisture can temporarily slow this process, which means that modern-day artisans who still work with the wood often do so after immersing it in liquid baths. The transparent, glassy leaves of the Glombar tree are regularly picked and turned into jewelry, and the Heil have a thriving industry built on growing large, opulent leaves in a variety of colors. Larger leaves are also used to create patterned windows resembling stained glass.

Lastly, the Glombar tree’s roots provide a food source for any Heil willing to do a bit of digging. As the roots move through the soil, they will produce fungal pods that swell up just beneath the surface. These are officially called behar pods but are often referred to as “glassfruit” (despite being neither glass nor fruit) and are an evolutionary defense in case of a drought or nutrient shortage, and the growths are packed with moisture and vitamins. Should a Glombar tree be caught in a drought or unable to feed regularly on its desired water supply, it will re-consume these pods to stay alive. The Heil have long harvested them as well, often leaving several behind to avoid killing the tree, and are a staple in a variety of cuisines. The tuber-like growths are usually sliced and then seared to lock in the nutrients and moisture, but in some places, it is eaten raw or sliced and added to meat dishes. It is even reduced down into sauces for heartier dishes or boiled and used as a base for soups and stews.

In appearance, glassfruit can range from the size of an apple up to the size of a medium watermelon. They have a shiny exterior comprised of a thin layer of plant fibers from which their nickname is drawn. When holding them up to the light (and when raw) they are slightly transparent and the ‘skin’ of them creates a rainbow-like effect. After being cooked, they become opaque and reveal a complex network of ‘veins’ running through them to carry nutrients. Unlike more traditional plants on Earth, this fruit normally lacks any seeds (although there are rare cases where some seeds drop near the base of the tree and are absorbed by the behar pod). The propagation of Glombar trees is done exclusively through its parasitic partnership with the Sovereign wasp.

Due to the impressive size of older Glombar trees, they can also play host to a variety of other species that make their homes in the gaps between the twisting fibers of the trunk. It is not uncommon to see the large, migratory trees supporting entire ecosystems, much like coral reefs on Earth. Often times their passengers are avian in nature, including the desert niltava (*Xanthovelox quadriptera*), which will make nests in the gaps of the trunk and emerge to prey on the Sovereign wasps, but also on other insects and birds that approach the tree. They have even been known to swarm and dive larger predators (and occasionally curious Heil) who get too close. They also serve a similar role to some cleaner fish, often removing and eating parasites that attempt to take root on the tree’s calcified bark.

The most common type of Glombar tree to be observed have bright yellow leaves in their canopies. Red, orange, and white are the second most common. Rare colors include, blue, green, violet, cyan or pink. The trunks of the Glombar trees are often differently colored as well. Trees with ‘hotter’ colors (red, yellow, orange, and white) tend to have trunks that range from dark brown through deep gray all the way to black. The ‘cooler’ colors tend to have lighter barks that can be gray, white, or even some shades of pale bluish gray.

It is worth noting that Glombar trees are considered a parasitic and invasive species, and seeds from Glombar trees transported to other planets are quick to take root and adapt with little to no difficulty. As such, there are currently embargos and restrictions on transporting live samples of the trees and careful screening is conducted on shipments of glassfruit. The transport of Glombar wood and leaves is not prohibited, as the process of working these materials removes any trace of seeds. Due to the rare case of behar pods reabsorbing seeds, there is a persistent fear that the Glombar seeds can make their way to other planets. There, they don’t need to be as mobile as they do on Sovereign but can often leech groundwater or other liquids from the soil and spread like wildfire. When they do not need to be mobile, the trees can focus more energy into growing. On other worlds, Glombar trees can grow to insane heights (one case on Chindrus recorded a Glombar tree growing to almost five hundred feet in height). They may lose the unique capability of mobility in these cases, but their increased size causes an immense drain on local ecosystems.