Gemtrap Cactus Carnocactus Gemmiferus
Flowering Plants
Gemtrap cactus
The Gemtrap Cactus is a towering, tree-like succulent native to the arid plains of Orevein. Scattered among its dark green branches are vibrant, multi-colored flowers, each with incredibly strong petals and a gemstone lure at its center. Using these lures, the cactus attracts prey such as critters, birds, and bugs, then proceeding to trap and eat them using its flower. Brutal, yet necessary for desert survival.
Home Island: Orevein
Rarity: ✦✦✦✧✧
Growth Cycle: Slow-growing but long-lived. The cactus’ flowers bloom during warmer months, specifically attuned to the periods of increased prey activity. It actively digests prey to extract water and the nutrients needed for its survival in the desert heat. Anything that cannot be digested, such as bones, is blown away in the nightly winds.
Unique Properties: The Gemtrap Cactus is a highly carnivorous plant: it will try to eat anything that touches its flowers or fake gemstones, even if the prey is much too large for it to handle.The gemstones act as visual bait, bursting open with digestive juices once the flower clamps shut around its prey. When under stress, the cactus can mutate, causing ‘burls’ to form. These burls are often closer to the ground and inedible, easily identified by their gnarly shape and strangely colored flowers.
Ease of Cultivation: ✦✦✧✧✧
Practical Uses: The digestive juices, housed inside the fake gemstones at the center of the flower, are often used in cleaning products due to their acidic nature and ability to break things down rather easily. Additionally, the main stem and branches of the cactus are edible. They are often used in soups or seasoned like meat.
Value: ✦✦✦✧✧
Lore and Cultural Significance: Nobody quite knows how this cactus came about, but its strange properties and carnivorous nature have spurred many bedtime and firesides stories. Often, it is a symbol of caution against greed and the hidden dangers of the wilderness. On the other hand, Orevein locals consider its presence a sign of good luck, as it means there is enough wildlife in the area to sustain it.