Maua Fungi (Mow - Ugh)
The maua fungi is a parasitic flower fungus that spreads through spores released from the seeds in the send of the flower. It serves to spread its species to other living hosts, such as animals, insects, or other humanoids, in the hope of continuing its species. The only species the maua fungi cannot possess is the Tatzelwurm, who seems to be immune to whatever influence the fungi has over people. It needs a host to survive and will do anything to protect its host, including giving the host the ability to sense when danger is upon them, whether that be poison or a physical attack.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The fungi can grow to be one foot and six inches tall with a vibrant green stem containing stiff tulip-shaped leaves that grow from the base of the stem. The budding flower appears as a lavender ball and opens like hundreds of tendrils to seen an orange base and lavender puffball in the center. The puffball is the spores and seeds needed to spread for more fungi to grow.
Genetics and Reproduction
The spores spread through the air, looking for a new living host to survive and create more spores. Once these spores are released, they remain active while looking for a new host to sustain them.
Growth Rate & Stages
As a seedling or spore in the air is breathed in by the host, where the seedling implants itself and the roots begin searching for the brain or nervous system to latch on to. After one to two days, a small green sprout starts to push out.
The green stem starts to form on the host, often growing out of the ears, nostril (only one, so the host can still breathe), and will sometimes break skin to continue growing. The sprout can sometimes cause blindness by growing out of the eyes, but this is extremely rare as the fungi needs to host to see where it is going.
As the sprout quickly grows, reaching maturity at only a week, the flower bulb starts to appear and blooms within two days, where the spores can start being released. Spores can be continually released as long as the host remains alive.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The fungi needs organic matter to feed from, usually something with flesh, like meat, veggies, or fruits. The host is often made to see their favorite foods when consuming nutrients for the fungi. Most hosts will attack out of desperation for their food, acting deranged and almost foaming at the mouth when hunger pains strike.
Biological Cycle
The maua fungi needs warm climates with humid air to survive. Colder climates weaken the fungi, causing it to die off if it can't find warmth.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Often found in the dense part of forests from Achana, Xustoice, Uncharted Lands, and Seshar, the fungi can also be found in the Underdark, close to the surface. Due to the Morinholm Pass running over a network of caves that lead to the Underdark, the maua fungi grows across the mountains of the pass, leading to why many gith avoid the mountains near their homeland.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
The host is never in any pain as the fungi wants their host happy, sort of like they are running off of endorphins. During this time that the host is linked to the fungi, they can eat hordes of food, but remain slim as the fungi feeds off the host's fat like a fuel source. They have a psychic link between each other, allowing the host to sense danger as a form of protection to keep the fungi and host living. In a sense, they have a druidic harmony.
Table of Contents
by Amelia Nite (dream AI)
Lifespan
Host's lifetime
Average Height
1 feet, 6 inches
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Lavender and orange tendrils, green stem, and lavender puffball/seeds.
Geographic Distribution
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