Carnivorous Plants Ferns Flowering Plants Fruit Fungi Grains Grasses Herbs Lichens Mosses Shrubs and Bushes Trees Vegetables Vines Weeds

 

Carnivorous Plants

Assassin Vine; an odd plant native to the rainforests of southern and central Asivis. Not technically carnivorous, the Assassin Vine reserves its wrath for fellow plants. During the early stage of its life, the Assassin Vine winds its way along the forest floor, growing quickly from a seedling to about the thickness of a man's thumb, and usually having multiple tendrils radiating out from a central rhizome. These tendrils wind their way through the undergrowth until one encounters a sapling or other similarly sized plant. Once one does, it secures itself to said plant, much in the manner of an ordinary vine, immediately beginning to send rootlets into the tree. Unlike other vines, however, the plant begins slowly to navigate the other vines emerging from its rhizome to the tree over the next half-day or so; they too fasten on to the tree. Once all tendrils are secured, the truly sinister nature of the assassin vine becomes evident; for the rootlets do not absorb moisture or nutrients directly from the plant; instead, they secrete a powerful corrosive toxin which serves to both kill the plant and weaken its stem at the point the assassin vine has attached itself. Over the next couple days, the victim's stem or trunk softens and corrodes, while the assassin vine is rapidly growing further tendrils up the plants trunk, attached by a set of non-poisoned rootlets.

After about a week or so, the victim plant is almost certainly dead, while the second growth of rootlets have secured themselves into its trunk. The Assassin vine then begins to retract its tendrils towards its rhizome, snapping the victim plant's stem off slightly above the ground and dragging it to the main body of the vine, where its nutrients can be absorbed.

 

Chomper; a small, light grean, round leafed plant that grows in temperate to tropical regions. It shoots out stalks that have rounded pods on the ends, which eventually open revealing a small, bright red cavity coated in hairs. These hairs are coated in a resin of sorts which causes numbness and in small insects, paralysis. Should the cavity become blocked, the end will rapidly seal itself off (some varieties develop a small film, while others merely close on themselves). The Chomper will then attempt to digest whatever has blocked it's pod, usually various insects which are attracted to the colour of the cavity. The resin, with some difficulty, can be extracted and used as a form of aneasthetic. However, an entire plant yields very little resin, and thus it takes many Chomper's worth for a bottle of the substance. This makes it available only to the very wealthy.

 

Razorgrass; known by many other names, including Deadly Knifeweed, The Tongues of the Bladed One (uncommon, origin unknown), and Slicing Weed. Razorgrass consists of a central mass which rests just beneath the surface and sends up a thick clump of innocuous looking green grass. However the individual blades are very rigid and extremely sharp. Razorgrass feeds off small animals that are hapless enough to roam through it's blades which lacerate the creatures, spilling their nutrients for the plant to simply absorb through it's leaves and roots.

 

Snarling Snapper; also known as Grinning Snapper, this is one of the most unusual plants in the world. It is debated as to whether it actually is a plant, or an immobile creature. It is usually green, yellow, or red (though white varieties have been spotted in northern Thass and Orath) and consists of a small bunch of furry leaves at the base, a thin stem with two oval leaves halfway up, and a small bulbous head. The head is possessed of a perpetually "grinning" mouth, lined with small, sharp "teeth". It attracts its prey (small birds and insects) through a combination of rhythmic clicking and odd squeaking noises. What it is really famous for is its reaction to perceived threats. Whenever a creature too large for it to kill approaches, it responds with a fierce, gurgling snarl. In the wild, Snappers can be found in small colonies at the base of trees, or occasionally alone in the grass. Though it's "teeth" are certainly sharp enough to cause bleeding, the Snapper simply doesn't have a real jaw, and can't actually take off anyone's finger. If captured while too immature to have a mouth, the Snapper can be harmlessly removed from the ground and potted for use as an insect catcher at home, or a rather strange pet.

 

 

Ferns

Givaly Fern; whereas on Earth, silk is obtained from silkworm cocoons, on Xothu it is taken from the leaves of the Givaly Fern. The leaves are stalks are boiled for a day or two and the resulting white threads from the inside of the plant are threaded and sewn to form clothes. They live almost exclusively in the Basin of Givaly.

 

Singing Fern; a dull mother-of-pearl plant, which grows to a height of one metre. Its leaves are pale azure and it bears vividly red fruit, which is highly poisonous. It feels weak but its most notable feature is its beautiful singing. People have tried to imitate its song but it seems impossible.

 

Flowering Plants

Batwing Bluebell; a small five inch high flower in the shape of a bell with petals shaped like wings where it joins the stalk. They come in various shades of blue, from periwinkle to a deep indigo. If the flowers are crushed and mixed with unicorn blood, it produces a potion that, when drunk, provides immunity from all poisons. Since the extinction of the unicorn however, this drink has never been seen and is believed to be just a rumour to many.

 

Tithin; this slender little plant has clusters of spiked leaves, and flowers that are almost indistinguishable from it's leaves. It has a very distinct, not unpleasant aroma.

 

Fruit

Chirrup; This berry comes from a plant with long, pointed, dark green leaves. It sends out little, pale, curled tendrils which unfold and flower with small red and yellow buds. The flowers eventually give way to a delightfully sweet orange berry. As it ripens, the berry turns pink and becomes very chewy to eat. The plant establishes itself rapidly, and will flower within months of being planted, but after it's first flowering will only grow very slowly. If the berries are left on the plant while it grows, the plant is more likely to get larger, and bushes that grow to waist height can be cultivated in this way, providing a much larger crop of berries.

 

Common Apple; Delicious, juicy fruit that grows on a medium sized, deciduous tree with green foliage and small white or pink flowers. Fruit is generally round in shape, and around the size of a fist. The fruit is usually found in bright red, light or dark blue, dark green, and pale yellow.

 

Wanderberry; An odd, small berry. Round and deep purple, it appears to grow entirely on its own with no roots, flowers, or foliage. The Wanderberry can be found (with difficulty, and a lot of searching) nestled deep within thick grass and makes for a sweet, juicy snack. They can also occasionally be seen on open dirt, usually after being trodden on. When broken, they give off a sweet aroma. The berry propagates itself by being allowed to ripen and decay, the berry dries and splits open allowing spores to float off on the wind eventually becoming new berries. (Called the Wanderberry because wanderers generally find them flattened on the soles of their footware.)

 

Fungi

Pourf Mushroom; an incredibly ugly, bloated mushroom that grows deep in some forests. It starts resembling a normal mushroom, but rapidly puffs up as if covered in unpleasant growths. While not strictly speaking inedible, it tastes revolting.

 

Saltblood Rose; is a fire engine red plant, which grows like fungi to a height of one foot. It has dull crimson leaves and glowingly sea green fruit, which is very rich in taste. It feels papery and has a well-reputed bloodthirsty nature. When an insect lands on a leaf, the leaf curls up and traps it. As it rots, the nutrients pass into the plant keeping it alive.

 

Grains

Spakk; A fast-growing grain raised in the Floating Gardens of the Mobile Kingdom of Kaluang Clah. It sprouts quickly, puts forth ears of a brownish grain that fall off fast. It requires rich soil and water to grow. It's grains are nutritious, but terribly bland. Spakk seems to have originated in mountain regions, and is found scattered around the world.

 

Ner; While less nutritious and fast growing than Spakk, Ner (known by many different names; Night Orcs for instance call it "Cruth") is much more tasty as far as grains grow, and is commonly used for flour. Nine times out of ten, bread is made out of Ner flour. It is, however, uncommon in Orath and Thass. It sprouts as a very dark green shoot, which rapidly lose their colour and become a whitish yellow. While quite leafy, the ears grow well above the leaves making them easy enough to harvest. Ears are the same colour as the rest of the plant, and tend to be elongated and slim.

 

Grasses

Bamboo; A large, fast-growing, woody plant native to central Asivis. Easily the largest of Xothuvian grasses, bamboo has become an environmental problem of late as thick forests of the plants have erupted in Daramus, Thass, and Orath, presumably descended from plants brought from their native lands for ornamental purposes.

 

Swamp grass; This is the common name given to a variety of over one hundred species of grasses that grow in and around swamps. There are many varieties, from tiny centimetre high breeds to great thick-stemmed types. The toughest ones, which often appear to have an outer layer of bark, are often used to build houses of the Lizardmen.

 

Tendrila; A short, thick grass ending in a slightly bulbous tip, grows in fields or clumps. The most common variety is verdant green at the base and grows to a much darker colour at the tip. A rare but nonetheless well known variety is the Tendrils of Heaven. These are identical to common Tendrila, save for their white and light blue colouration.

 

Herbs

Aldaka; a rare mountain-growing herb, which can cost up to 1000 gold pieces in its prepared state. It can heal eyesight as long as the eye remains. The roots must be brewed over a low fire for one week and the resulting distillation drunk. Some intelligence is required to prepare this herb.

 

Amrans; as winter returns to summer, this herb shoots up in meadows and freshwater banks. The lilac flowers can be prepared into a potion that rapidly cures wounds. To be properly prepared, it takes a week but it can be made in three days, although the effects are rarely as good.

 

Tebrous; a fairly common herb that resembles tube-leafed grass that when crushed exudes a pleasant aroma of pine. It is not edible, but extract of Tebrous is used in treating burns.

 

Lichens

Antigubane;An incredibly thick lichen usually of grey colouring (and occasionally yellow), this lichen takes centuries to become established, but when it does become firmly attached it is impossible to remove without destroying the stone it is growing on. Thousands of minute rootlike protrusions penetrate the rock beneath it, fastening it in place and making it tough. Many ancient ruins have become indistinguishable from the rocks around them from being coated in Antigubane.

 

Mosses

 

Curall; A rare maroon coloured moss that can cure any known ailment. It is usually used as a boost to other, weaker health potions but can be rubbed straight onto wounds to heal instantaneously. Although many have tried, no one has succeeded in growing it in captivity.

 

Glow-wort; Dark blue moss that grows in swampy areas, remarkable for its curious tendency to glow a soft yellow color when crushed. The Shadow Lilithians are rumored to prize Glow-wort highly as a source of light, though the light it gives off is generally too pale to be of much use for most other beings.

 

Nempspine; Curious light green moss that grows usually on fallen trees. It resembles a small series of spined vertebrae.

 

Shrubs and Bushes

Grobkkam - Native to the Isle of Borb, Grobkkam is a flowering shrub that blooms eratically with white flowers that have a peculiar, rather sweet taste, and are used as spices. If left on the branches, the blooms eventually rot and create a terrible smell, like much Borbinian life. In nature, it seems to help encourage those that consume it's blooms to flee and spread its seeds.

 

Rockleaf - This light-grey leafed plant is found in the mountainous regions of Daramus and the warmer parts of Orath. With patience and thorough pruning, this stubborn bush can be used as an effective hedge. It's branches are very thick, and even the leaves are quite tough, most people don't bother attempting to cultivate it.

 

Scraburgle - A hearty bush that can grow almost anywhere. It grows fast, has deep roots, and tends to form a spherical shape. It's leaves are small and are an odd dark green color. It produces small red berries that have a spicy taste, but almost inevitably give the eaters a serious case of the runs - leading it to be used in diruetics. The leaves are sometimes smoked, but the acrid smoke is an aquired taste, and few make the effort to aquire it.

 

Trees

Adamant Cinderpine; a hardy, evergreen tree that is prolific in the north, just below the tree line. While not extraordinarily large, they make for perfect timber and building material, since they are both extremely rigid and slow-burning. A single log of Cinderpine can burn for days on end, and gives off a characteristic odour which is really quite pleasant. In addition, accidental fires are easy to put out before severe damage sets in.

 

Greater Nutwood - Greater Nutwood trees are, surprisingly, not related to Lesser Nutwood treets. Greater Nutwood trees are tall trees that bear large, fist-sized nuts that are arguably edible, but only Dwarves seem to enjoy the rather sharp taste. Greater Nutwood is strong, excellent wood for construction. The trees branch reguarly, and have long, thin leaves that are rather sharp-edged.

 

Kyrosos Oak - This squat and sturdy tree is surprisingly quick growing for it's type, reaching full size in as little as 20 years. It bares acorns only once or twice in it's lifetime, usually around age 15. Acorns from this oak are stale and bland tasting but incredibly fertile and easy to propagate. Native to the region of the city state of Kyrosos, it has been used as lumber by Kyrosos for centuries.

 

Lesser Nutwood - Lesser Nutwood trees barely grow over three feet tall, and have very thick bases. They tend to have "domed" gatherings of branches with odd, three-pointed leaves. Their nuts are of average size, and are very sweet and nutritious. Their wood is the same color as Greater Nutwood, but tends to be weaker, though its softness does lead to it being used in some musical instruments.

 

Purple Willow - hauntingly beautiful trees, with pale green leaves fading to purple as they mature, and an eerie, gray-purple cast to their bark and wood.

 

Sunset Softwood; a tree with amethyst-coloured bark, which grows to the dangerous height of seventy-five feet. Its leaves are indian red and it bears bronze fruit, which tastes woody and is a delicacy with Grand Lilithians. It feels smooth and it has great elasticity. They grow in temperate areas where rain is common. They are rare and can take up to five hundred years to reach their maximum height.

 

Temper; a solitary tree which takes decades to grow to full size. Until this time, it will never flower, and the leaves will appear only at the ends of it's branches which only reach out from the top portion of the tree. When the tree has reached maturity, the leaves will turn a brilliant red and sprout along every point on the tree's surface. Temper has tiny, pale yellow flowers which appear near the start of branches for a month in spring before falling off.

 

Vegetables

Sea Cabbage; this rubbery-leaved plant grows on beaches and in rock pools. It is popular fare with humans and lilithians, who both claim it is both juicy and crunchy. The leaves can be eaten raw or boiled lightly. When being collected, the whole vegetable is taken but the roots are not eaten. Many beach-dwelling animals enjoy eating them.

 

Wobbling Bogtuber; a gelatinous sort of root vegetable about the size of a Human's fist, commonly a dark purply-red and encased in a thick, knobbly membrane akin to the outside of a sausage. It is commonly eaten raw, or mashed and added to soup as a thickener. The large white seeds in the centre can also be roasted, although they are rather bitter. The tuber itself has a bland, heavy taste, and the consistency of pudding when eaten raw. Travelers would be advised not to step on a Bogtuber in the marshes where it commonly grows: they tend to burst, and the stain is difficult to remove from clothing.

 

Yim; a small, green to blue spike-leafed vegetable that grows to about a dwarf's waste in height. It has yellow flowers, and produces a deep red, slim oval vegetable that can be harvested at two different times in it's life cycle. The first is when the vegetable itself has just turned red, at which point it is soft and juicy and a good treat when raw. The second requires waiting until the end of the season, when the vegetable has become a much deeper red. The centre of will then be hard and crunchy when roasted lightly, while the outer portion will have become quite tasteless.

 

Vines

Bonding Vine; one of the most mysterious and powerful plants on the face of Xothu, the Bonding Vine (also called Bonding Plant, Bonding Weed, or just Bonding) is extremely rare and perhaps for a good reason. It grows one twisted, glossy green stalk that reaches about a foot in length (taking years to grow to this stage) and then simply stops growing, not every specimen produces leaves but when they do the leaves are thick and rubbery. It is not particularly exiting to behold.

However, this vine has a strange and unique property. Should a person come in contact with a Bonding Vine or consider one to be in his or her posession for even a short length of time, the vine will form a sort of spiritual symbiosis with that person. This means that each reflects the state of wellbeing of the other. If one sickens, so does the other, plant or person. But as the vines are hardy, and live for decades, possession of one will almost certainly increase the lifespan of the bonded person.

The owner will become extremely posessive and protective of the vine, lovingly caring for it as it seems to demand attention, and reacting to threats to it in a hostile manner. They will likely want to keep it near them (it survives well in a pot) at all times. Protracted seperation from the vine will cause sickening in both, and possibly death (though the vine can bond itself to another.) Due to this link, the vine can be used as a sort of weapon against it's owner. Outright destruction of the vine can cause madness or even death, while slow burning or cutting can induce suffering. Poison (should a strong enough poison be found, considering the strength of the vine) will almost certainly kill the owner as if they themselves had taken the poison. When the vine (eventually) dies of old age, the bonded dies with it. Though often a vine will outlast several owner through being stolen and rebonded.

In spite of all these drawbacks, the Bonding Vine offers incredible rewards. Keeping a Bonding Vine in good health will do the same for the bonded. Should either the bonded or the vine begin to ail, sometimes it is only necessary to cure one of them. Hunger can be staved off by watering or feeding fertiliser to the vine. It is even said that giving an unbonded vine to the very recently dead can restore life, but at the cost of that person's soul to the vine. The Bonding vine slows, if not outright halts the aging process, and bestows it's strength to it's owner. The vine also cannot be drowned, and occasionally this property is transferred to it's owner as well. Should a vine be given to an elderly or infirm person, the vine will not recover them, instead it will reflect the state of the one it is bonded to until both pass away.

The vine is extremely rare and found only high in the mountains of Daramus, Thass, and Orath.

 

Woodland Angeldust; if you walk into a forest and smell a fantastic aroma but have no idea where it comes from, look down. It will probably be a carpet of the this inch high vine. Its tiny leaves are vividly pewter and it feels furry. It bears no flowers, fruit, nuts or cones.

 

Weeds

Pillup; while fairly innocuous and easily removed, this weed has a very quick life cycle. It is not yet understood how it breeds, but it is capable of establishing itself overnight and growing to full size within two days, dying after a week (having propagated itself in it's surroundings.) It comprises a lone stalk, with a single large, pointed leaf, over all coming to an inch high with the leaf an inch long. Colours vary, depending on the acidity of the soil, but it is usually a shade of green from deep verdant to a much paler colour. It is native to Thass and parts of Asivis but has been spread to the more temperate parts of Daramus (the Night Orcs have a spell exclusively written to eradicate it). It's most offensive property is merely it's prescence, as it tends to look quite untidy, but it is otherwise completely harmless.

 

Thorny Basa; this weed is one of the most annoying plants in the world. It is immune to many poisons and diseases making it almost impossible to remove. It can grow up to three feet tall but one plant can spread out for miles. The roots spread out even further, and it is believed that the entire Kingdom of Shattered Lands is above them. They are completely inedible and breed with tiny pink flowers.

 

Tikitik; a blasted grasslike weed that is common in most parts of the world. While it is easily poisoned, the leaves and roots are very tough and hard to remove by hand or even with a blade. It overruns gardens, smothering other plants around it.

 

Wasteland Thorn; perhaps one of the vilest plants in the world. They are generally small, dark green plants that are covered in thorns. If given the chance however, they can grow to immense sizes. The Kingdom of Shattered Lands is crawling with these plants. They bear no flowers, fruit, cones or leaves. The thorns can be collected and used in some growth potions.