Sylphium

Sylphium is synonomous with rare, valuable and prized, a medicinal flower grown only in northern Alkelbulan. It has an array of uses including as seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac and most importantly medicine. Amid the Quiris-Hellenes empire and still in Kemet and Kna'an, it is most prized for its resin, called laser or laserpicium. Due to demand and its sparcity, sylphium is extremely expensive, bought and transferred in small amounts. After all, sylphium will only grow between Marrakesh and Sesli Plato or within isolated mountains in Libu. Legend claims the plant was a gift from Lithmor herself to the peoples of the Shamsi Desert. And if one believes these legends, Rithaldis' Plane is home to entire fields of sylphium! Producer Herbaceous Flowering

Kaithur

Rithaldis' Diet Thanks to Rithaldis' Diet, sylphium are able to consume or absorb radiant energy (sunlight, solar plasma, ionizing radiation) as sustenance, to heal or to replenish their magic energy. Sylphium grows by absorbing the strong sunlight in the Shamsi Desert and consuming parts of this plant grants one the same ability for a stretch of time, converting any radiant energy in their body or environment into energy and/or healing any damage caused to the consumer. Mpertem's Aura With Mpertem's Aura, sylphium can generate emotions, states and thoughts related to Mpertem to those around it or to those who consume it. Generally imparts euphoria and eases the pain of injuries, aches and pains.

Anatomy

Original Ancestor Lifespan Ferula drudeana Giant Fennel Perennial Height Diameter 8 ft 2.5 m 1-3 in 3-8 cm Appearance Silphium is a plant with a thick, light green stalk, dark green and heart shaped leaves and golden inflorescent flowers. It roots are stout and branching while stalks are grooved and striated. Its basal leaves are heart shaped and resemble celery leaves. The characteristic golden flowers are umbel, many small flower stalks spreading into an umbrella-like shape. Dry and papery fruit are also shaped like inverted hearts.

Habitat

Montane Semi-Desert Coastal Steppe Sylphium cannot be cultivated, growing only as a wild herb. They also only flower and go to seed once before dying, sprouting up quickly after spring rains. Difficult to transplant, they need cold stratification to germinate which means exposing the seeds to wet and wintry conditions. Sylphium will only grow at altitudes between 5,000-7,700 ft (1,500-2350 m), preferring rocky, chalky soil. It takes at least ten years for the plant to fully mature, dying shortly after going to seed. It grows best on mountains and high steppes and needs to be protected from grazers like sheep and goats who are attracted to it, despite the plant's tendency to make them sneeze!

Life Cycle

Angiosperm Monocarpic Dioecious Schizocarp The details about how this species reproduces isn't well known, its exact needs a mystery. Humans have tried to domesticate Sylphium to no avail--they will only grow wild! It also takes a considerable amount of time for them to mature enough to reproduce, needing at least ten years. Even mature sylphium doesn't adjust well to being transplanted and seeds require cold stratification to germinate (exposing seeds to cold and moist conditions to break down their hard seed coat and trigger growth). It's umbel flowers are famously golden and even its leaves turn gold as the weather cools, losing their chlorophyl briefly before wilting. Yet they also grow very quickly after rain, shooting up by six feet in one month! When it does finally reproduce, it flowers transform into a dry fruit called a schizocarp which breaks apart into many smaller pieces before scattering to the wind. These are a hard but papery fruit that are shaped like an inversed heart.

Uses

Whether it is crushed, roasted, sauteed, boiled, made into a poulstice or its resin is extracted, sylphium is most used to treat radiant poisoning, the contemporary term for radiation sickness. It is also known to generate a sense of bliss, euphoria or even pain relief whether used as a medicine, made into perfume or even just kept live. Aside from the effects of its kaithur, the plant contains multiple medicinal purposes too. Sylphium can treat cough, sore throat, fever, indigestion, aches and pains and warts. Most notable, those who consume sylphium can heal their wounds or dull their chronic pain by sunbathing! Sylphium resin or ground up leaves can even be used as contraception or for abortions, leading to this herb being used as a symbol for sexuality and love. A small dose the size of a pea is given to either prevent pregnancy or to abort, the herb triggering immediate menstruation. Overall, the flower is a major symbol for Rithaldis and has many positive assocations despite its rarity. Due to its high price tag, some even call it the King's Flower and one might just find a popular drug in black markets derived from Sylphium, possessing an equally golden price tag.