He seemed to remember seeing something vaguely similar in a survival documentary back on Earth about desert plants storing water. But this was a different world, assuming a plant was safe was a quick way to get poisoned.
Out of pure precaution, Sol closed his eyes and tapped into his 'mental library'... the vast, transmigrator-enhanced recall of his past life's knowledge. He flipped through mental images of Earth flora, comparing leaf structures and survival tactics.
He opened his eyes. It did indeed look remarkably similar in biological function to a barrel cactus, even though the one sitting in front of him was countless times larger and looked significantly fiercer, possessing thick, defensive barbs along its base.
Still, it was worth a shot. He drew his flint knife and carefully made a small, precise puncture near the top of the bulbous plant.
