Acid Mushroom

The Acid Mushroom is a fungus belonging to the Flora category. It is also a Raw Material.

The player can either pick it up by hand or use the knife in order to harvest Acid Mushroom Spores from it. The Acid Mushroom can also be placed in a Farming Tray.

Appearance
The Acid Mushroom appears to be an aquatic form of fungus. It has a very thick cap that appears to pulsate. There are two varieties. The smaller variety is purple, while the larger variety has a purple body with a maroon cap top.

At the moment, both varieties have an item symbol that resembles the larger variety. However, the game will remember which type of Acid Mushroom the player picked up. When the player drops an Acid Mushroom, it will regain its original form, on any surface.

Behavior
The Acid Mushroom displays two kinds of defensive mechanisms. If cut by a Knife, it will harm the player with acid. When detecting player movement nearby, the Acid Mushroom starts to shiver. If the player gets even closer, the Acid Mushroom starts to shrink.

Data Bank Entry
A common, spore-bearing fungi species, with developed defense mechanisms. The flesh contains a highly acidic compound which leaches into the water if the outer skin is penetrated. Fluctuations in the local water pressure may also cause it to shrink.

It is not clear which predator species necessitated such extreme counter-measures, but the acid mushroom's numbers suggest it has successfully deterred most of them.

Assessment: Inedible, but exploitable in battery fabrication if picked carefully

Trivia

 * The Acid Mushroom has a subspecies that is found in the Blood Kelp Zone called the Deep Shroom.