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Description
The Mellicorpus is a plant species that is well known in its region for its bizarre look and "special" sap. While some of its more common names refer to this species as a "tree," due to its large size and woody nature, the Mellicorpus only fits that term in its broadest form. It does not have the abundant branches or green leaves that many think of when someone uses that word, but its general shape definitely evokes the idea of one. It possesses a gnarled network of roots at its base and the upper layer of this mass sits above the soil. The rest burrow down below, but they do not go nearly as deep and wide as other tree roots do. This is because the Mellicorpus is a bottom heavy plant, so it doesn't need an expansive anchor system to keep it from tipping over. The trunk of the Mellicorpus is where the weirdness really begins. It is a lumpy, warty distorted thing that looks more like a malformed limb than a mighty, sturdy tree trunk. The bottom is bloated and covered in what at first appears to be large burls. From there, the plant grows upward in a twisted, crooked manner, becoming thinner and thinner as it rises. At the top, it splits off into curvy branches that stick out at awkward angles. Long vine-like growths spew forth from buds that run along them, and these ugly limbs are topped with purple flowers. If you haven't guessed by now, I am not a fan of this plant species. While it is indeed a fascinating specimen that has a lot of unique adaptations, I find it to be quite unsettling. At first sight you would find it hard to believe that this thing is actually a plant. It is more fitting as some deep sea monstrosity than a tree or shrub. To me, it is a hideous thing, but I am not writing this entry just because it is an ugly plant. Like I said before, it has some special adaptations that make it a worthy species to write about, but they aren't all that pleasant.

While its strange appearance definitely gains one's attention, the real fame of the Mellicorpus comes from its "special" sap. Like the sap of any other tree, it is a thick and sticky substance that hides below the woody surface. Unlike other trees, though, it produces this substance in obscene quantities. I don't think I have ever seen a single specimen of this plant that isn't leaking its sap everywhere. Those large "burls" I mentioned are actually more like woody cysts, as they are filled with this orange, honey-like fluid. While its bark is thick in other spots, these protrusions have a very thin skin on them, causing them to split and leak at the slightest nudge. At the rate they ooze their sap, I almost believe that they pump these cysts full of the stuff until they split open from the pressure. They just leak this stuff everywhere, making them one of the more messy plants one could put in their garden. All this oozing sap, though, is not by accident. There is a reason that it wants its sap on the outside, and you only need to take a whiff to understand. If you are hunting for this plant in the wild, you will smell it before you even see it. Its sap has a very sweet, aromatic smell to it, with people comparing it to a "fruity honey" or a "citrus flavored dessert." I won't lie, it does smell quite good, enough to make one's belly rumble with anticipation! Unfortunately, that is what the Mellicorpus wants. It wants its wonderful fragrance to draw you in, it wants your mouth to water at the slightest whiff. Insects, beasts and people will follow that pleasant smell until they come upon the tree. With all that sap oozing out, it is hard to resist going in for a taste, and that is where the problems start. To get an idea of why this is a bad thing, just realize that one of the common names for the Mellicorpus is the "Honey Bile Tree."

The sap of the Mellicorpus is indeed sweet and flavorful, but it hides a nasty little secret. If you have a little taste of it, you may be able to pick it out. The flavor begins with a punch of sweetness, and it flows quite smoothly, but near the end it grows bitter. That is because the sap contains a digestive agent! While it can be compared to honey and tree sap, it also has some similarities to stomach acid. It is not super strong or extremely caustic, so don't expect it to melt off your tongue upon the first taste. Instead, it is a very slow acting agent that is limited by time and quantity. One drop of the sap will not cause damage to you, as your saliva and own stomach acid will easily dilute it and neutralize it. In large quantities, however, the sap will easily overpower any of your body' defenses and begin to break things down. With the draw of sweet smells and taste, victims will come in and gorge themselves on the abundant sap. Small insects and critters may wind up getting caught in its sticky hold, causing them to drown and become digested. Larger creatures may eat so much that they become lethargic, which gives the sap time to slowly eat away at their stomachs. Those who succumb to this engorging will die as the sap destroys their stomach or throat, and their corpses will lay upon the soil and roots. In time, sap and decomposition will break them down and transfer nutrients to the ground and tree, which is ultimately what the Mellicorpus wants. The Mellicorpus requires certain nutrients that are missing from its environment, so it gets them by digesting other creatures. Their broken down flesh will be sucked up by the roots or will be used to enrich the soil around the Mellicorpus. One way or another, it shall get its meal.

Though this may sound utterly horrific and terrifying (which it kind of is), the Mellicorpus is only a real threat to insects and the foolish. In fact, it is believed that the Mellicorpus gained these adaptations in order to prey upon the abundant insect populations around it. With such a sweet aroma, sugar-loving bugs can hardly resist its temptations. They shall track down the plant and go on a feeding frenzy, which will either end with them drowning in the sap or being digested from the inside out. The Giant Ants are one of the Mellicorpus' primary prey species, as they are easily entranced by its smell and their size provides plenty of food for its roots. Due to their reliance on pheromones and smells, a heavy dose of the Mellicorpus' scent can practically hypnotize them, causing them to mindlessly rush to the tree to feed. Caught up in the sugary buffet, they will be oblivious to the sap's deadly secret and will perish. A funny thing about their relationship with the Giant Ants is that the Mellicorpus cannot survive in close proximity to one of their colonies. You would think having one of these trees right next to a nest would be a perfect scenario for them, but it is actually a bad thing for the plant. With it so close to a large population, its aroma would entrance too many ants at once, causing a massive feeding frenzy that would ultimately destroy the plant in the process. Instead, the Mellicorpus wants to be on the outskirts of a colony's range, where it can only be detected by hunting and gathering parties. These small groups are much more manageable and enough time will pass between the arrival of these parties for the tree to repair any damage caused by the crazed ants. So in the end, the Mellicorpus seeks to feed on insect species more than man or beast, but that doesn't stop the hungry and foolish. If one listens to their stomach more than their brain, then they may become a victim to this insidious plant.

With such a delicious sap and deadly trap, the Mellicorpus has gained quite a reputation for itself. While one may assume that this plant has nothing but infamy, it is actually more of a mixed bag. Those who live in the regions where this plant grows know to be wary of it, but they don't necessarily despise it. Any trees that are located near a town or village will have warning signs posted all around it, and many parents are sure to use horrifyingly graphic stories to warn their children. Though seen as dangerous, certain cultures will harvest the sap and use it for cooking. In minute amounts, it adds an interesting level of sweetness to a dish, and in such small diluted quantities, it poses no harm. With its sweet sap, the wood of the Mellicorpus carries a pleasant fragrance that lingers long after harvest. While its mangled shape prevents it from being used to create houses or furniture, the wood is often used to create ornamental pieces or trinkets. The petals of its flowers are collected and used as an aromatic. Some people place them around their house to keep things smelling nice, while others may use the petals to mask unpleasant odors. Fittingly enough, the flowers of the Mellicorpus are often used in morgues and mortuaries to help cover up the smell of death and decomposition. This emboldens the theme of death that surrounds this plant, and I can understand why.

In certain places, the Mellicorpus is seen as a symbol of death and deception. The term "demon tree" is thrown around a lot, and some cultures believe that a Mellicorpus grows from the corpse of a wicked soul. Their cysts help strengthen this image, as their ruptures and splits may create the illusion of a drooling mouth or bleeding eyes. For dryads, the Mellicorpus is a plant that is not tolerated near villages or towns. Since saplings are raised on a diet of nectar, they tend to have a taste for sweetness which makes them an easy target for the tree. To prevent horrible tragedies, many dryad villages destroy any of these trees that grow nearby. On the other hand, there are certain collectors and gardeners out there that find the Mellicorpus a fascinating specimen. This is due to several reasons. The first and the most obvious is its wonderful smell. The second is its interesting nature and cultural significance, which is sure to make for an interesting talk or presentation. Thirdly is its sap, which can be used to cook and impress any guests. Lastly is the fact that the Mellicorpus requires very specific conditions to properly grow. It certainly is not any easy plant to raise, which makes it a boasting point for any who succeed in growing it. Any botanical garden worth its salt will have one of these plants, and you can be sure that it will be a flaunted centerpiece. As for me, I have had my fill of these things (pun not intended, but appreciated). I do indeed enjoy their unique nature, but my time studying them has ruined them for me. They're just...creepy. That alien look, those face-like cysts and that powerful smell. Stick around these trees long enough and that odor will become noxious and sickening. Spend enough time looking at them and you will swear that they move, or at least I did. On some days I felt like it wriggled and squirmed like a lethargic worm, and those faces seemed to grin and mock me. I know I always laugh at those who cling to superstition and myth, but I can't help but feel that these things have earned their horrible image. Even the sap doesn't appeal to me. Yes, it does smell good and indeed it does taste good, I am not denying that. But when you watch prey of this tree die in a slow and horrible manner, when you walk past those melting, bloated corpses, you won't be able to think of anything else when someone hands you one of those fancy little desserts.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

------------------------------------------------------------

To switch things up from all the animals and beasts I post, here is a plant! And a horrible one at that! Who would have guessed?

Description
The Mellicorpus is a plant species that is well known in its region for its bizarre look and "special" sap. While some of its more common names refer to this species as a "tree," due to its large size and woody nature, the Mellicorpus only fits that term in its broadest form. It does not have the abundant branches or green leaves that many think of when someone uses that word, but its general shape definitely evokes the idea of one. It possesses a gnarled network of roots at its base and the upper layer of this mass sits above the soil. The rest burrow down below, but they do not go nearly as deep and wide as other tree roots do. This is because the Mellicorpus is a bottom heavy plant, so it doesn't need an expansive anchor system to keep it from tipping over. The trunk of the Mellicorpus is where the weirdness really begins. It is a lumpy, warty distorted thing that looks more like a malformed limb than a mighty, sturdy tree trunk. The bottom is bloated and covered in what at first appears to be large burls. From there, the plant grows upward in a twisted, crooked manner, becoming thinner and thinner as it rises. At the top, it splits off into curvy branches that stick out at awkward angles. Long vine-like growths spew forth from buds that run along them, and these ugly limbs are topped with purple flowers. If you haven't guessed by now, I am not a fan of this plant species. While it is indeed a fascinating specimen that has a lot of unique adaptations, I find it to be quite unsettling. At first sight you would find it hard to believe that this thing is actually a plant. It is more fitting as some deep sea monstrosity than a tree or shrub. To me, it is a hideous thing, but I am not writing this entry just because it is an ugly plant. Like I said before, it has some special adaptations that make it a worthy species to write about, but they aren't all that pleasant.

While its strange appearance definitely gains one's attention, the real fame of the Mellicorpus comes from its "special" sap. Like the sap of any other tree, it is a thick and sticky substance that hides below the woody surface. Unlike other trees, though, it produces this substance in obscene quantities. I don't think I have ever seen a single specimen of this plant that isn't leaking its sap everywhere. Those large "burls" I mentioned are actually more like woody cysts, as they are filled with this orange, honey-like fluid. While its bark is thick in other spots, these protrusions have a very thin skin on them, causing them to split and leak at the slightest nudge. At the rate they ooze their sap, I almost believe that they pump these cysts full of the stuff until they split open from the pressure. They just leak this stuff everywhere, making them one of the more messy plants one could put in their garden. All this oozing sap, though, is not by accident. There is a reason that it wants its sap on the outside, and you only need to take a whiff to understand. If you are hunting for this plant in the wild, you will smell it before you even see it. Its sap has a very sweet, aromatic smell to it, with people comparing it to a "fruity honey" or a "citrus flavored dessert." I won't lie, it does smell quite good, enough to make one's belly rumble with anticipation! Unfortunately, that is what the Mellicorpus wants. It wants its wonderful fragrance to draw you in, it wants your mouth to water at the slightest whiff. Insects, beasts and people will follow that pleasant smell until they come upon the tree. With all that sap oozing out, it is hard to resist going in for a taste, and that is where the problems start. To get an idea of why this is a bad thing, just realize that one of the common names for the Mellicorpus is the "Honey Bile Tree."

The sap of the Mellicorpus is indeed sweet and flavorful, but it hides a nasty little secret. If you have a little taste of it, you may be able to pick it out. The flavor begins with a punch of sweetness, and it flows quite smoothly, but near the end it grows bitter. That is because the sap contains a digestive agent! While it can be compared to honey and tree sap, it also has some similarities to stomach acid. It is not super strong or extremely caustic, so don't expect it to melt off your tongue upon the first taste. Instead, it is a very slow acting agent that is limited by time and quantity. One drop of the sap will not cause damage to you, as your saliva and own stomach acid will easily dilute it and neutralize it. In large quantities, however, the sap will easily overpower any of your body' defenses and begin to break things down. With the draw of sweet smells and taste, victims will come in and gorge themselves on the abundant sap. Small insects and critters may wind up getting caught in its sticky hold, causing them to drown and become digested. Larger creatures may eat so much that they become lethargic, which gives the sap time to slowly eat away at their stomachs. Those who succumb to this engorging will die as the sap destroys their stomach or throat, and their corpses will lay upon the soil and roots. In time, sap and decomposition will break them down and transfer nutrients to the ground and tree, which is ultimately what the Mellicorpus wants. The Mellicorpus requires certain nutrients that are missing from its environment, so it gets them by digesting other creatures. Their broken down flesh will be sucked up by the roots or will be used to enrich the soil around the Mellicorpus. One way or another, it shall get its meal.

Though this may sound utterly horrific and terrifying (which it kind of is), the Mellicorpus is only a real threat to insects and the foolish. In fact, it is believed that the Mellicorpus gained these adaptations in order to prey upon the abundant insect populations around it. With such a sweet aroma, sugar-loving bugs can hardly resist its temptations. They shall track down the plant and go on a feeding frenzy, which will either end with them drowning in the sap or being digested from the inside out. The Giant Ants are one of the Mellicorpus' primary prey species, as they are easily entranced by its smell and their size provides plenty of food for its roots. Due to their reliance on pheromones and smells, a heavy dose of the Mellicorpus' scent can practically hypnotize them, causing them to mindlessly rush to the tree to feed. Caught up in the sugary buffet, they will be oblivious to the sap's deadly secret and will perish. A funny thing about their relationship with the Giant Ants is that the Mellicorpus cannot survive in close proximity to one of their colonies. You would think having one of these trees right next to a nest would be a perfect scenario for them, but it is actually a bad thing for the plant. With it so close to a large population, its aroma would entrance too many ants at once, causing a massive feeding frenzy that would ultimately destroy the plant in the process. Instead, the Mellicorpus wants to be on the outskirts of a colony's range, where it can only be detected by hunting and gathering parties. These small groups are much more manageable and enough time will pass between the arrival of these parties for the tree to repair any damage caused by the crazed ants. So in the end, the Mellicorpus seeks to feed on insect species more than man or beast, but that doesn't stop the hungry and foolish. If one listens to their stomach more than their brain, then they may become a victim to this insidious plant.

With such a delicious sap and deadly trap, the Mellicorpus has gained quite a reputation for itself. While one may assume that this plant has nothing but infamy, it is actually more of a mixed bag. Those who live in the regions where this plant grows know to be wary of it, but they don't necessarily despise it. Any trees that are located near a town or village will have warning signs posted all around it, and many parents are sure to use horrifyingly graphic stories to warn their children. Though seen as dangerous, certain cultures will harvest the sap and use it for cooking. In minute amounts, it adds an interesting level of sweetness to a dish, and in such small diluted quantities, it poses no harm. With its sweet sap, the wood of the Mellicorpus carries a pleasant fragrance that lingers long after harvest. While its mangled shape prevents it from being used to create houses or furniture, the wood is often used to create ornamental pieces or trinkets. The petals of its flowers are collected and used as an aromatic. Some people place them around their house to keep things smelling nice, while others may use the petals to mask unpleasant odors. Fittingly enough, the flowers of the Mellicorpus are often used in morgues and mortuaries to help cover up the smell of death and decomposition. This emboldens the theme of death that surrounds this plant, and I can understand why.

In certain places, the Mellicorpus is seen as a symbol of death and deception. The term "demon tree" is thrown around a lot, and some cultures believe that a Mellicorpus grows from the corpse of a wicked soul. Their cysts help strengthen this image, as their ruptures and splits may create the illusion of a drooling mouth or bleeding eyes. For dryads, the Mellicorpus is a plant that is not tolerated near villages or towns. Since saplings are raised on a diet of nectar, they tend to have a taste for sweetness which makes them an easy target for the tree. To prevent horrible tragedies, many dryad villages destroy any of these trees that grow nearby. On the other hand, there are certain collectors and gardeners out there that find the Mellicorpus a fascinating specimen. This is due to several reasons. The first and the most obvious is its wonderful smell. The second is its interesting nature and cultural significance, which is sure to make for an interesting talk or presentation. Thirdly is its sap, which can be used to cook and impress any guests. Lastly is the fact that the Mellicorpus requires very specific conditions to properly grow. It certainly is not any easy plant to raise, which makes it a boasting point for any who succeed in growing it. Any botanical garden worth its salt will have one of these plants, and you can be sure that it will be a flaunted centerpiece. As for me, I have had my fill of these things (pun not intended, but appreciated). I do indeed enjoy their unique nature, but my time studying them has ruined them for me. They're just...creepy. That alien look, those face-like cysts and that powerful smell. Stick around these trees long enough and that odor will become noxious and sickening. Spend enough time looking at them and you will swear that they move, or at least I did. On some days I felt like it wriggled and squirmed like a lethargic worm, and those faces seemed to grin and mock me. I know I always laugh at those who cling to superstition and myth, but I can't help but feel that these things have earned their horrible image. Even the sap doesn't appeal to me. Yes, it does smell good and indeed it does taste good, I am not denying that. But when you watch prey of this tree die in a slow and horrible manner, when you walk past those melting, bloated corpses, you won't be able to think of anything else when someone hands you one of those fancy little desserts.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

------------------------------------------------------------

To switch things up from all the animals and beasts I post, here is a plant! And a horrible one at that! Who would have guessed?