Black Heart Vine
“A peculiar plant that has both the ability to heal and to harm. It’s interesting that those effects seem to be opposite of the stereotypes associated with the seasons.”This often overlooked vine, gets its name from the curious black, heart shaped leaves that it grows throughout the warmer months of the year. The seasonal changing from black leaves to red leaves in the winter has caused some confusion among amateurs, which has led this vine to being misidentified as a completely different and fictional plant called the Red Heart Vine. Botanists and herbologists insist that there is no such plant and that this vine should always be referred to by its proper name. However, many have recently begun to just call it the Heart Vine. As a poisonous plant, most animals tend to stay away from it, but humans have found a few controversial uses for it. Its unique properties allow it to be used as a secretive poison and as an antidote. These valued traits have brought all manner of people into the remote wilds looking for this unusual vine.
Basic Information
Anatomy
This plant consists on one long thin, fleshy green vine that is interspersed with single 2 inch heart shaped leaves about every 4 inches along its length. During the spring, summer, and fall, these leaves will be a dark black in color and become a deep red in the winter. At the bottom of the vine there are small brown nodes in between each leaf section. These may grow into long thin, brown anchors that reach down for the soil or out for the nearest rock or tree truck. They tend to grown towards the darkest nearby areas. Once in place, these anchors secure the plant allowing it to withstand flooding waters or high wind and allow it to climb towards the light of the forest. Under certain conditions these nodes or even the anchors may develop into separate root systems in moist areas, preparing it for a form of reproduction.
Genetics and Reproduction
This vine reproduces asexually in two main ways. The first is through accidental breakage, where a portion of the plant is broken off of the main piece and begins to grow a new plant. Once that broken piece is submerged in water or buried in moist soil it will begin to root and grow a new vine if there is sufficient sunlight available.
The most common natural method is when the plant develops small nodes along the bottom of the vine in between each leaf. When these touch the soil they will begin to grown roots from theses nodes and anchor the plant in the ground. Weak points along the vine will dry out and shrivel that portion and eventually break, creating two separate plants, the original and a new one some distance away. Additionally if the long vine ever becomes broken the pieces with the rooted nodes will essentially become their own new plant as well.
Growth Rate & Stages
This slow growing plant sends out only a single, long thin branch from its small stem that travels across the ground and grows about 4 inches per year. Each year it develops only one small heart shaped leaf. While this plant is considered mature after a single year, it never produces and flowers, seeds, or fruits. Typical specimens tend to live between 5 and 10 years.
Ecology and Habitats
This vine requires a temperate climate with elevated humidity such as coastal forests or even some jungles landscapes. Areas with frequent rain in the warmer months and well drained but moist soil seem to provide ideal growing conditions.
Dietary Needs and Habits
This plant requires a moderate amount of light and warmth with nutrient rich soils. It can withstand warm dry summers by storing water in its fibrous root system, but enjoys periods of prolonged rain during the hottest months. It grows best in areas that have bright springtime sunlight with dappled sun in the summers. Its growth will often be towards the direction of the incoming light, even if that means that it needs grow up rocks and tree trunks.
Biological Cycle
In the spring this green vine begins to grow a new tip from underneath its last leaf. This tip slowly extends farther out, growing about 4 inches in length and producing a single, tiny new dark green leaf. Throughout the summer the vine and leaf absorb sunlight and the roots take in nutrients and store the energy in its roots and leaves for the coming winter. At this time the tiny green leaf becomes dark black and grows to its full size. During the late fall, the black leaf fades and turns into a deep red color in preparation for the winter snows. Lastly the vine hibernates beneath the snows until the following spring.
Additional Information
Domestication
This plant is quite easy to transplant into new locations or even kept indoors if the new environmental conditions match the natural habitat of its origin. However once a wholly transplanted vine is moved to a new location, the leaves seem to take on a purplish-maroon shade and lose both their poisonous and healing properties.
If a leave is cut off with a piece of the vines stem attached and is then buried in moist soil with the leaf exposed above, it will often root itself in the new area and eventually grow and produce new leaves as if it was still in its natural habitat.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
There are two main uses of this vine and each depends upon the color of the plants leaves. For most of the year this plant has sour black leaves which can be harvested and eaten and will cause the person to become extremely aggressive and combative and fly into a blind rage attacking anyone nearby. If they are refined and processed, the liquid form will act as a subtle poison that will cause slow muscle paralysis, flowed shortly by a massive heart attack to those who ingest it.
During the winter when the leaves turn a bright red, they can be eaten causing a soothing and relaxing effect. With further refinement, the red leaves can produce a liquid that will cure the drinker, of any poison that affects the muscular system of that person.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This short vine can be found in some of the wild and damp forests of the world. Most grow in the temperate regions but a few have been discovered in the humid jungles as well. Several reports show that they can be found in the deep forests of the Broken Lands and those misty woodlands that border the Viker Kaare River. Additionally, Greve Vasco's map suggests that the vine can be found in the Razil Forests of the Sumi Tal-Sha'ba, as well as unsubstantiated rumors persisting of it being seen in the dangerous continent of Selva Monde.
Average Intelligence
As that of a typical plant.
“I might be able to procure some Heart Vine for a price. Would you like red leaves… or black?”
Scientific Name
Vitis Cor Nero
Lifespan
This viney plant has been known to live for 5 to 10 years in its natural environment.
Conservation Status
This plant is not under any kind of governmental protection or conservation laws.
Average Height
Despite its length, this is a low growing vine that will only raise up about 2 inches from the ground unless its climbing up a rock or tree.
Average Length
The length of this plant depends upon its age. It generally grows about 4 inches per year, reaching a maximum of 40 inches in length.
Average Physique
This plant produces several small heart shaped leaves that are individually intermingled along a tough narrow vine.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
This dark green vine has black colored leaves that occasionally change into a dark red color.
Geographic Distribution
"If you want his death to look like natural causes, it will cost you double. Or… you could save some coin and bring me some fresh black leaves from the Black Heart Vine.”
I can see how the black leaves could be seen as a natural cause of death, especially if the person ate it and attacked someone they shouldn't have!