Description: Leatherwort (Foreground).  A fleshy plant that is often found associated with the Fuzzy Fern (Background).  The plant ranges in color from a tanish brown to a vivid orange. The green tufts in this illustration are always found when the two plants are found together. It is thought that the plants exist in a symbiotic relationship with the tufts playing some part in their mutual exchange.  When found in isolation, the leatherwort plants grow in large clusters, with a predominance of bright orange plants.  The mottled or tanish brown color is most often found when the plant is associated with the Fuzzy Fern.

Geographic Spread: Found at medium to low altitudes on all land masses in areas with average to below average rainfall.  In drier areas the Leatherwort is found alone, without the Fuzzy Fern, which requires more moisture to flourish.

Uses and Cautions: The Leatherwort can be used as a source of emergency water in much the same way as an Earth melons or cacti.  The flesh can be eaten, but the green tufts are very astringent and must be removed before the plant is eaten to avoid an unpleasant swelling of the tongue and lips.

Description:  Bushblob.  The bushblob is a water plant found on inland lakes and ponds. It floats on the surface with approximately two-thirds of the plant submerged.  When seen from a distance it resembles a bush  floating on the water.   The plant seems to grow continuously.  The largest examples are assumed to be the oldest.  Portions of the plant that break away soon establish themselves as separate entities.  The plant seems to obtain nourishment from both photosynthesis and absorption of microbes through its jelly-like roots.

Geographic Spread:   The bushblob is found in most inland bodies of water, sometimes completely covering smaller ponds and lakes.

Uses and Cautions:  The bushblob is not edible by humans  or earth derived livestock due to its high concentration of heavy metals.  However, as a rule of thumb, any body of water that has 50% of its surface covered by the plant is safe for human consumption. The plant absorbs heavy metals and microbes that are harmful to humans.  Early settlers transplanted the plants  to their home water storage tanks, and the bushblob is now incorporated into all hydroponics/water recycling facilities on the planet.