Quillfence

A Quillfence stores energy in the form of inulin in its thickened underground stem swellings (tubers). Usually, it uses the energy stored within its tubers to quickly recover from herbivory, especially from Ramchins, a major herbivore. In the very rare instances of volcanic eruption, it can draw upon the energy of its tubers to quickly grow above covering layers of ash and photosynthsize again, or wait out days when the sky is dark from ashes.

The inulin of its tubers is difficult or impossible to digest for most fauna which don't use extensive microbial fermentation in their digestive systems. The most practical workaround of using something with a pH equal to or less than 4 and heating up to at least 40 C (104 F) is irrelevant in its environment, which is not especially prone to fire, and lacks any organisms intelligent enough to use fire or even hot rocks. Thus, only a few herbivores can theoretically digest its tubers.

Quillfences can reproduce vegetatively, something like potatoes, by growing underground shoots from the tuber, which eventually grow into tubers of their own and new individuals. Where the soil is rich and fertile, most often in Raptor Volcanic, it can create many such shoots, roughly evenly spaced from each other. The thin, straight aboveground shoots and spacing brings to mind a fence, hence the name "Quillfence".

Quillfences grow in the more arid, low-lying areas of their habitats. They take roughly two and a half months to grow to maturity, with less for particularly ideal conditions. In conditions of significant ashfall, it survives the outskirts of volcanic eruptions better than their relations. However, their slower maturation rates require good conditions for months to establish populations, and they are somewhat slow to colonize denuded areas. Differential performance under volcanic eruptions is nonetheless difficult to observe, due to the rarity of such events.

Around two months, Quillfence stems start becoming tough and lignified around the tuber. After two and a half months, lignification becomes more substantial, significantly decreasing its palatability to Ramchins. After this point, tuber growth tends to slow down, and it has greater reproductive output. Maximum lifespans for an individual are around eight months, although small clonal colonies can persist for longer. If not broken down or substantially decayed, the lignified stems of Quillfences remain upright for a surprisingly long time, making a fairly good fence for small fauna.

The tubers have a delicious nutty taste, something like pecans and potatoes. The fuzz-like leaves of dead and dying Quillfences are somewhat unusual among purpleflora for being bluish periwinkle-like color, not pink or champagne.