Snake Vines

Snake vines are a dangerous subterranean plant capable of burrowing through organic and inorganic matter with little resistance. Their growth is triggered by heat and friction, and they're capable of growing several feet per second in many directions at a time. The hotter their environment, the faster they grow. They also seem to prefer growing in the direction(s) of whichever surrounding area is warmer. Because of this, they grow at dangerously high speeds whenever medium-to-high magnitude earthquakes disturb them, a phenomena known as Vinequakes.

Snake vines can withstand up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit before their rate of growth seems to slow dramatically rather than increasing. It is therefore inadvisable to try to burn them, as applying an open flame (below this temperature) to them will trigger more violent growth.

However, there is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that extreme cold is effective in combating their growth. They grow slowly (a few inches a day) at room temperature (70-90 degrees Fahrenheit) and extremely slowly (less than a few inches a week) at colder temperatures, with growth rate decreasing the colder their environment is.

Structure and Appearance

Snake Vines originate from clusters called Snake Vine nests. They are only known to exist deep underground, at least 300-500 feet (about 90-150 meters) below the Earth's surface. Snake Vine nests are sphere-shaped clusters of mature Snake Vines surrounding some kind of central structure. There is currently no known safe way to explore what is inside Snake Vine nests without triggering extreme growth. The width of individual vines vary from a few inches to several feet, depending on proximity to nests and maturity. Vines will be significantly thicker near the epicenter of growth, or if enough thermal energy and/or friction is applied to them.

Spines

One of the most dangerous part of Snake Vines are their spines. Spines refer to the often razor-sharp tips which appear to be made out of hardened plant matter. It is these tips which can travel up to a couple inches per second when burrowing into organic or inorganic matter, essentially penetrating anything it wishes to grow into. When enough energy is applied to the non-spine parts of Snake Vines, more spines can sprout within minutes (or seconds in extreme cases), often violently shooting outwards in whatever direction the stimulation came from. Sprouting spines are capable of severely injuring or killing human beings and animals with little or no warning. See here for what to do if you're penetrated by Snake Vines and survive.