Jala Trees

Jala
Information
Distinguishing Features:	Red trunk, large green fronds
Uses:	Ship building

Growth Cycle

Jala trees grow extremely quickly but thrive in only a few select climates. Typically a tree will be fully grown (about 20' tall at their maximum) in around a year, and then it will be optimal for harvest. Waiting longer than a year and a half will typically yield less effective materials.

Regional Information

The Korthai and a few select islanders refuse to disclose the exact location of Jala groves, but it's generally known that they reside on islands between the two major continents of Veth. The lucky few that have been privy to such information recount that the groves pack the small islands practically to bursting, with the Jala trees quite possibly being a sort of weed. Only the ocean water has stopped them from spreading further. Jala trees notably do not grow on beaches, regardless of material or soil content.

Cultivation

Jala groves are typically allowed to grow on their own. There is little to no pruning or fertilizing. Cultivators typically only harvest the weed-like trees once they're properly mature, making room for new trees. The cycle continues on and on, fueling the Korthai shipbuilding industry.

Uses

Many historians attribute the historical rise of the Korthai to Jala trees, and those red-trunked trees may very well be the reason the Korthai have been able to hold their own in the battle for naval superiority over the years. Jala wood is innately buoyant and self-seals against saltwater, no doubt one of the reasons that they fail to survive in any sort of environment with saltwater nearby. The red fibers of the trees, which are the source of the trademark coloration, are used to create the fireproof sails of the fearsome Korthai ships as well. With both the required wood and the required fibers, a basic vessel can be created with only a grove of Jala trees.