Mana is the seed of the genetically engineered Triryza stelerba, Triryza colonial, and Triryza caption, a resilient family of grain-bearing grasses. Many star nations and food corporations have derived their own species to suit their needs and uses of the grain. It is incredibly versatile and can be supplanted for nearly all uses of wheat, corn, rice, amaranth, sorghum, and millet. Additional species have also been known to replace legumes.
Like rice and wheat, it is both a monocot and a perennial, with each plant able to regrow after harvesting and rarely requires replanting. This was intentionally designed into the plant to minimize the burden upon colonial farmers.
Table of Contents
Etymology
The name "mana" comes from the biblical food known as "manna," (Hebrew: מָן mān, Greek: μάννα; Arabic: المَنّ, Persian: گزانگبین), an edible substance which God provided for the Israelites during their 40-year exodus from Egypt, which was often made into cake and bread. Many early colonists were often traveling for many years with little more than the modern mana for food. Seeing the parallel, the name "mana" stuck with the Human Continuity Project, though many other names with less religious connotations were tried.
Evolution and Subspecies
Triryza stelerba
The original "mana" created for the first colony ships, T. stelerba is more wheat-like than other forms.
Triryza coloniam
Developed during the Astrum Diaspora as a replacement for T. stelerba, T. coloniam tastes less earthy and is more durable, but grows lower to the ground.
Triryza caprium
Other varieties are numerous have been developed by and for individual planets or nations.
Physical Characteristics
Most strains of mana grow to produce a cluster of spikes from a central stalk or shoot—similar to wheat at similar heights one meter above the ground. Each spike may contain forty to sixty individual seeds, and each stalk of mana will grow between four and twelve clusters.
Behavioral Characteristics
Mana grows on every colony planet across the galaxy, either wild (by intention or not), in farmed fields, or in enclosed greenhouses, for use as food.