Stone Shrooms

Physical Properties

Stone Shrooms are massive fungi with cap diameters of 15-30 feet and heights of 10-20 feet. They feature a calcified exterior that provides excellent protection from the elements, while their hollow interior creates natural living spaces. These mushrooms possess natural insulation properties, water collection systems, and self-cleaning surfaces.

Distribution

Stone Shrooms are found in jungles and wild lands throughout Aethoria. They thrive in humid environments where their calcification process can occur naturally, often forming colonies that create entire networks of interconnected structures.

Usage Patterns

These massive fungi serve as temporary shelters for travelers and wildlife, providing protection from rain, wind, and other environmental hazards. They are used as storage facilities for food and supplies, meeting places for communities, and emergency refuges during storms or other dangerous conditions.

Growth Cycle

Stone Shrooms begin with an initial soft growth phase where they rapidly expand to their full size. This is followed by a gradual calcification process that hardens their exterior while hollowing out the interior. The mushrooms then begin spore distribution and colony expansion, creating new growth areas.

Ecological Role

Stone Shrooms play an important role in their ecosystems by providing shelter for various species, contributing to soil formation through their decomposition, and creating microhabitats within their hollow interiors. They also help regulate moisture levels in their environment through their water collection systems.