Adaez

Adaez Tree
Information
Other Names:	Dung Tree
Found In:	Pentland
Type:	Tree
Distinguishing Features:	Green leaves, rough brown bark, fruit
Uses:	Habitat of Kirak

Growth Cycle

Adaez trees grow quickly and their branches are almost vine like in their need to reach sunlight. The trunk of the tree is normally only five or six inches thick and do not grow completely straight but bend and curve around anything in its way to make sure it reaches the light. Because of the nature of this tree in doing so, average height is almost impossible to gauge. Adaez trees have two actual flowering seasons and in between these seasons where the flowers of the tree, the flowers are produced in three to thirty clusters together on large branches and directly on the trunk with each flower having a calyx and five petals. When the flowers begin to form the fruit of the tree a pungent sac of sap within the center of the flower bursts to coat the petals with a sticky liquid in which the fruit's seeds lodge and grow. The flowers of the tree do not have a pleasant scent at all, they have been describes as smelling like spoiled milk or butter, or like rotted meat.

Those five petals of the flower form around the fruit of the tree and as the fruit grows the petals part and expand to make room for the round or oblong fruit. The fruit can grow up to 12 inches long and 6 inches in diameter, and typically weighs two to seven pounds. Adaez fruit when fully matured is anywhere between a bright rich green and a deep greenish yellow with its husk being covered in short thorns that make harvesting it difficult. Inside the outer husk the inner meat of the fruit is a rich yellow color and the texture resembles cream cheese, the flesh being parted off into four sections within and one large seed in each section. The flesh of the Adaez fruit also has an extremely unpleasant and strong smell much like the rotted milk and butter of the flowers but people have also described it as smelling of rotting onions, manure, or bad fish. It is not harmful to humans but a person that could get passed the stench of the fruit is unlikely.

When the fruit of the tree reaches full maturity, if it is not picked, the fruit will drop off the stem of the tree and on impact with the ground the seeds inside which are highly sensitive to jarring, explode. The explosion of the seeds does not cause any kind of damage to the area because the flesh and dense husk keep the initial concussion in. However the explosion does cause the flesh of the fruit to expand, breaking the husk and sending the cream like pulp flying in all directions.

Regional Information

Adaez trees are local only to this area and serve as the primary food source as well and habitat of the local flightless Kirak. Though the fruit of these trees serve as the diet of these local birds it is almost inedible to humans because of the nature of its pungent flesh and terrible smell. These fruits are not used in any local dishes and normally are used in pranks pulled by the local children because of the smell and their explosive properties.

Cultivation

Because of the uselessness of the fruit and the flowers, being unused for anything other than pranks and feeding the Kirak, these trees aren't cultivated anywhere outside of their own region. They are allowed to grow because they cause no real harm and even the exploding seeds aren't dangerous as much as just annoying, and without the trees the Kirak would lose its habitat, but they haven't been attempted to be raised anywhere else. Adaez trees also are home to the Thamno Snake, nearly harmless serpents that battle for possession of the trees with the Kirak.

Uses

Adaez bark is too rough and knotty to be used for anything, the wood of the trunk is too hard and grows into knots and strange bends and doesn't grow wide enough to be fashioned into anything really useful. People have used the straighter of the trees in the past for spears or staves but the weapons or staffs that come from the tree can not be kept long because after six months or so the wood begins to exude a very unpleasant smell.