I was hoping that Botany would be easier in the Twelveswood even if.i had to suffer greenswrath or woodsin. But it feels lesser straight forward right now.

I suppose the catalyst items will be an exclusive gathering item, but I think I see what you mean. Mining a rare Unobtainium Ore, perhaps it even has Unique status. And this item would in turn make a Unique item. Similar to the Vintage gear, but instead of the rotten, battered, blunt item being the rare piece, it's something found from gathering.

Haven't gathered enough to know if there's hidden caches stored in a tree hole, buried under the roots, or tied around a branch high up in the tree. Or if fishers find small chests from sunken ships or some weathered untradable moccasins. Etc.