In the cultural lore of the M'shinni, the term Firstmother designated those humanoid women from the vanished M'shinni ancestral species who initially formed a symbiotic bond with plant life. The resulting lineage of these Firstmothers evolved into a unique species of sentient beings, virtually enveloped in moss-resembling flora.
Every Firstmother served as the originator of an M'shinni clan, known as a Rootline. These Rootlines ultimately shaped the fundamental structure of M'shinni society and governance.