The Flare Lichen (Na'vi name: Pxayopinspxam) is a hardy mycelium that grows on damp ground in large, root linked colonies and changes color in reaction to environmental conditions and physical contact with other plants and creatures.
As the flare lichen grows, it extracts an unusual variety of compounds and metals from the topsoil and surface water, which makes it particularly beneficial to soil decontamination and renewal. Many of these chemicals are converted and stored as luminous pigments within surface cells of the organism.
Natural biodegradation of these chemicals slowly changes these colors, but when pressure is applied, a fast and vibrant color change occurs in the disturbed patch. Although this color change appears to be a threat reaction, it also appears to be used for communication within the mycelium colony. The color changing reaction of the fungus lingers for a short period, which indicates if other Na'vi or animals have passed by recently.
Na'vi Culture[]
Flare lichen is not harvested by Na'vi, who consider it to be the blushing skin of Pandora. Walking though a patch of the lichen is a beautiful phenomenon which is said to be a brief glimpse of Eywa's joy at your passing.
Sources[]
- Hunter's Guide in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.