Slimeweed

Slimeweed is a species of sessile photonate that evolved on the continent of Reldiga 780 million Earth-years ago. Many specimens were brought to each of the other continents during the Great Migration, but only the soil of Gamiala contained the mineral composition needed for the species to thrive.

Physical Characteristics
Slimeweed consists of a network of helical stems with wide, flat roots protruding into the substrate at regular intervals. Long and narrow slime-covered leaves grow out of the stems, spaced a few inches apart. Some individuals in nutrient-poor locations may never grow more than a few inches, while well-nourished specimens are capable of spreading out across dozens of miles of terrain.

Habitat
Most slimeweed is found on rocks, to which it anchors itself by secreting acidic slime that creates tiny cracks in the surface which its thin roots can grow into. The roots are so strong that even heavy individuals are capable of growing on vertical cliffs as well as the underside of overhanging rocks.

Use in Rock Carving
580 million Earth-years ago, early Protopyronates discovered that they could use the secreted slime to etch the surface of even the hardest minerals, and thus sculpt rocks into almost any shape. The most common technique was to use dried stems to mask the area around the surface to be etched, then apply a thin layer of acid onto the surface within the outline of stems. Once the rock had been dissolved to the required depth, water would be used to wash away the remaining acid and granules of rock.