Animal races you say? Why not Plants!

Mostly on-topic: have you guys read anything by China Mieville? In particular, Perdido Street Station or The Scar? One of his main races are called the cactacae, and they are a race of intelligent cacti, complete with wooden bones. They live in a giant greenhouse built from a ruined dome in New Crobuzon and shoot rivebows, huge crossbows that launch spinning blades, since it is so difficult to really hurt one of them with a normal weapon. I've seen some write-ups for them as a D&D race here and there, but as of now they are probably my favorite vegetable race/species (right now myconids come a close second, but that's probably because I just got to feature them in my campaign).

If you liked Perdido Street Station, you'll probably also like The Scar - I recommend it highly. It's actually slightly less creepy, and a slightly better story in my view. But I'm a big Mieville fan. I like almost everything he's written.

‘shambling mounds made of seaweed’ = awesome.
In real life there are giant kelp which are 100 meters long. Think about it…

Awhile back I made plant based elves for my own world –

Siduri (3.5 edition)

Description : Siduri are plants with some starfish and some seahorse traits. With almond shaped eyes & high cheek bones and pointed ears. Siduri have thin skin that is stretched over bony rings throughout their body, head, arms and tail (like a Sea horse torso). Siduri have long muscular tails instead of legs, from the waist down. All Siduri have webbing between their fingers. Siduri have orange, grey and purple skin. Their hair is blue, white or red.

Vital Details : Height : 42+2D8 inches, Weight : 70+4D10 lb.
• Base Age : 20+D10, Max Age : 180+2D20.
• Attribute mods - +2 Dexterity, +1 Constitution, -1 Wisdom, -1 Charisma.
• Proficient with : Short swords & tridents.
• Racial Skills - Rank 2 Sense Motive and Swim.
• Size : Medium, Speed : 30 feet, Swim 40.
• Saving Throws - +4 vs Mind effecting & Poison.
• All Siduri can use camouflage cells in their skin to blend in with their surroundings, 4 ranks of Stealth.
• Automatic languages : Regional & Siduri.
• Siduri have 60ft Low light vision.

Physiology : With six hours sunlight they recover 1 hit point per character level. Thus they have no natural healing without sunlight. Siduri who change shape with magic are still plants, just in an animal shape. They do not drown or suffocate.

Siduir respiratory system is their skin-dermal, never have entire body covered, generally leave hands or head cover-free. Circulatory and dietary systems - two stomachs, can eat extra food and water to stash for later. They are herbivores, they can eat plant based plankton (phytoplankton) and any oceanic plant as well as forest leaf matter. They are both male and female and can breed with each-other or themselves. Gestation is for 12 months. Typically they only breed once per 20-30 years, but have 5-10 children at a time.

Coloration of skin and eyes changes with extreme emotion, tied to respiratory system. The color or shade is not important, the speed of change and amount of variation in the change is, so little and slow change means sadness or anger, a lot of change and speedy change means happiness. This can be done deliberately for mating.

Outlook : Most Siduri are respectful of Druids and sacred nature places, except Sorcerers who seem more interested in the protection of Home realms from all threats. Most pay patronage to several if not all gods. Siduri prefer light armour, and use hit and run tactics combined with speed and cover when engaged in combat. All Siduri are very uncomfortable being more than 3 days away from water, be it the ocean, a lake or a river. Siduri avoid eye contact as a sign of respect to people of superior authority and skill. Siduri prefer being near rivers and lakes and rarely go far inland without following a river.

Lineage – Patriarchal. / Personality; Secretive, Planners, Hunters.
Motivation-Fame – Exploring the world, other worlds, the body, the spirit.