+++DANGEROUS PLANTLIFE+++

CATACHAN BRAINLEAF

This plant is unusual in that it is possessed of what appears to be animal-like intelligence, albeit of a fairly low, instinctual level. The plant itself is a small tree, not particularly conspicuous amongst the other flora of Catachan, the plant's home planet. What makes this plant remarkable is its ability to detach its leaves, which are capable of flying through the [air] for many meters, propelled by a wing-like undulation. Each leaf is a macro-cell, and part of the plant's overall intelligence. Equipped with rasping hooks and intrusive nerve bundles, a leaf aims to attach itself to a living creature, injecting fibres which grow throughout the host's nervous system until it becomes a mere tool of the plant. Whilst incapable of high intellect, a Brainleaf can direct its victims in a sensible and rational way, enabling them to use weapons and equipment...

CREEPERS

Creepers are plants possessed of an animal-like ability to move their long, sinuous limbs. This response is not consciously exercised, but is a basic reaction to the presence of animals. A likely victim will be seized, dragged towards the immobile main part of the plant and crushed to death by its powerful limbs. There the body will quickly rot, dissolved by powerful enzymes secreted from the trunk.

GAS FUNGUS

This is a fairly widespread type of fungus, occuring in various unrelated but essentially similar forms throughout the galaxy. It generally appears as a mushroom and is often quite large and may reach over 2 meters in height....Should an animal approach too closely (6 meters) the fungus releases a store or poisonous gas. This store is built up withing the plant's tissues and once released takes several hours to regenerate. The gas persists for about an hour, leaving the fungus unprotected only for a short time. The gas itself is deadly although the specific toxicity varies from species to species.

SPIKER

The Spiker is one of the most dangerous plant forms in the entire galaxy. A Spiker can be of any size, but tends to be man-sized, about 2 meters tall and upright. They have a vaguely cylindrical shape, and are covered with a thick layer of hair-like leaves, out of which protrude countless thin, sharp spikes. These spikes are what make this plant dangerous. Piercing the skin of an animal, they release a genetically intrusive chemical that literally starts to reform the victim's body tissue into that of a Spiker. A human taking a spike in the arm will soon find his arm become hairy and immobile, and within a short time his whole body will be covered in spikes. Although the victim remains mobile for some time, the physiological changes destroy the mind, so that the victim wanders aimlessly. Eventually all mobility is lost and another Spiker will have been created.