Plinth Root

Plant Type

Nutritious Root

Rarity

Rare

Description

A thin, alabaster flower rises from the earth- adorned with petals of a creamy white, and a central core of golden pistil. From the first inspection, the flower itself appears to be a sort of daisy, with small circular leaves spiraling downwards along the stalk to the ground. However, to the keen eye, a thick and stumpy bulb protrudes just beneath the flower's stalk.

Beneath the stalk, is buried a thick and heavily laden root, much like the base of a wild carrot. When exhumed, and examined, the root appears to be a starchy brown in color, sponge-like with many porous indentations spread across and through the surface. Commonly mistaken to be the tunneling of worms, the spongy burrows are an integral part of the root's life cycle.

Its base twists, and spirals downwards into damp soil, at times a little over a foot in total length, and a five inches in diameter. The deeper portions of the Plinth Root are a lighter shade, at times approaching white, depending on the value of the nutrients in the soil.

Location

Shaded Valleys

Development

Plinth Root bears seeds through the small pockets within the porous surface of the root itself, and is transported from the parent body through the consumption of the root by ruminants, such as deer and boar. Once these seeds pass through the digestive tract of the animal in question, they are given fertilization by the droppings left behind, and begin their life as a seedling.

Growing from the small seed, into first a thin and wiry burrowing root, the plant sends feelers downwards, before thickening over [1 OOC month]. Once the plant has fleshed out, and depleted the nutrients originally given by the ruminant droppings, the thin stalk of the budding flower extends from the earth, to sprout in a short period of time. [5 OOC Days.] The plant then, has fully matured- and through pollination of the flower's pistil, begins its reproductive cycle to bear forth seeds once more upon its death.

Material Properties

• Plinth Root petals are supernaturally soft, and will serve as great cushions. They are even capable of, if a large enough size for a person, breaking falls from up to 15m in the air with no injuries but shortness of breath from impact. This only works if the cushion is already on the ground and set, not if one jumps off with it.

Alchemical Properties

• The root of the flower may be ground into a paste which will neutralize any organic acid.