Shiba and Mokai Aloe (Wold Guide, Technical) (Patreon)

Shiba & Mokai Aloe

The shiba and mokai plants are large leaved aloe plants native to the world of Kiamar III. The former has very tall, spiky leaves and uniform deep green color, while the latter is a squatter plat overall, with smooth leaves possessing a bright yellow tiger stripe pattern. The aloe within the leaves of both plants has the very peculiar quality of being able to stretch and contract in almost arbitrary fashion based on various stimulus from the green plant matter surrounding it.

The shiba plant is fairly slow moving, able to bend its tall leaves into a smooth ninety degree curve in about six seconds. It does this both to manage the amount of sunlight on the leaves in order to help remain fully hydrated during the dryer months of the year, as well as to discourage larger predators who might be nibbling at the leaf tips.

The mokai plant can move its leaves quite quickly. It does so to shake off predatory insects and to slap at larger predators who might attempt to browse on its leaves.

The aloe jellies of both the shiba and mokai plants are used as a basis for therapeutic slime baths. Generally mixed with water and artificially manipulated electronically, the shiba jelly is typically used for gentile, massaging baths, while the mokai jelly is used for faster vibrating baths. Pure jelly can be applied in massaging and vibrating poultices as well.

The most extraordinary use of the aloe jellies of the shiba and mokai plants is as fundamental components of biogel. Combined in a suspension with golden kisitti sap, odangi mushroom ejaculate, natural black latex, and other components, it serves as the mechanism through which biogel can move and change shape. When biogel is shaped into some specific fixed form, the aloe jelly component is effectively deactivated. In certain cases, such as with biogel gummy 'dolls' containing the living souls, the jelly component allows for natural posing, and the application of heat can allow for a certain degree of weak movement controlled by the gummy themselves.

Shiba and mokai plants are readily available on as small, novelty decorative plants for under 100 imperial credits. They will grow to the size of their root environment, and can easily be kept in small pots for the entirety of the 12-16 year lifespan.