Estreoth/Jaago Rhatzig

Jaago Rhatzig (Leechwood) is a clonal plant found throughout Ginaetr. It is a highly invasive plant and is well known to the Orcs.

Etymology
The common name for the plant, Leechwood, is a translation of the Orcish name, Ghragel-Meg. Jaago Rhatzig is an Amarthias name given by explorers. Leechwood remains the most common name for the plant. The name itself comes from the plants startling ability to act as a sponge and absorb large quantities of water.

Description
Leechwood blooms in large, tightly packed clusters that resemble moss-covered rocks. Most specimens grow up to eight feet in diameter, however the actual upper limit is closer to fifteen feet. However it is extremely rare for these large blooms as the conditions are rather precise. In most cases, once a bloom reaches between eight and ten feet, the plant will begin to die. Dead blooms, in regard to their wood, are the same as a living bloom.

Uses
The Orcs use Leechwood as one of their primary building materials. However, in regards to wood found in Etrothos or Haermir, it is an inferior wood. In addition to being rather weak and brittle, it absorbs water similar to a sponge. This trait makes the wood nearly unusable in or near water and completely unusable as a boat material (one of the reasons that the Orcs have not left Gineatr).

However, despite the flaws of the material, it is still commonly used in orcish engineering alongside rammed earth, mudbrick, adobe, and hides. However, it is somewhat rare to see leechwood being used elsewhere.