Wild Moonglow

Wild Moonglow is a dangerously beautiful plant common throughout the Isles, predominantly on Osupemlaba. Bioluminescent, clusters of this flower create a beautiful glow in the undergrowth at night- but woe unto them who decide to investigate the lights, for though magical to behold, almost every part of the plant is severely poisonous.
Wild Moonglow is most known for the effects of its toxin, which causes the deadly Moonglow Fever .

---

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Wild Moonglow consists of a collection of long, straight stalks extending from the ground, typically to a height of about 75cm to a metre. A singular plant will have around 5 of these greenish-brown stalks growing from a central bulb-like knot of thin roots just under the ground. Gathered densely around the base of the plant and also rising up roughly half the stalks’ length are the leaves, large and nearly round in shape, with a dark green colour that can almost appear blue in low light. At the end of the stems, the plant bears spherical clusters of tiny white flowers, which become small berries after pollination. Both the flowers and berries are bioluminescent, so that they shine a bright white when it is dark- hence the plant’s name.

Save the roots, every part of the plant contains extremely high levels of a special toxin used by the plant in connection to its bioluminescence. Especially the berries are filled with it, making their consumption particularly dangerous, though contamination can occur via even the slightest touch of any part.

Ecology and Habitats

Wild Moonglow thrives in the undergrowth of dense forests, growing quickly and spreading a glowing carpet over the area. It prefers cool, shady, damp environments, making the aforementioned undergrowth a perfect situation, though it has been known to grow in more open spaces like gardens and the outskirts of villages, should the climate be right. This allows for much contact with the inhabitants of these villages, especially should they be placed within or at the edge of a wood. The plant cannot grow in hotter environments, which is why it is seldom found anywhere on Izuru-Delk’isi other than the Easternmost woodlands, and flourishes in the forests of Osupemlaba.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

There exists an interest in the thin, winding roots of the Wild Moonglow, which can be used by healers in a variety of different medicines. Their tips contain a few drops of a potent juice that often enhances the strength of the remedy. There is only a very small amount of this juice in every plant, however, so the risk of being poisoned is often considered too great, and only the most trained healers are allowed to attempt the extraction.

Scientific Name

Corymba Luna

Conservation Status

As this is a very common species at this time, and has been for a long while, little to nothing is being done to ensure its survival- quite the opposite, in fact, as villages work to keep it from growing within their borders.