Blue feather fern

Known for its blue-green hue and smell similar to verbena, the blue feather fern is indigenous to the Laira River and known for its extensive uses in the medicinal world.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Typical to most ferns, the blue feather fern is a vascular plant with one plant having several spore producing fronds. The spores held on the ventral side of the fronds are chartuese in colour when ready to release and often hold most of the medicinal properties related to healing. The dorsal side holds most of the photosynthetic properties but also have the unique property of having proteins that are exceptionally good at holding and storing magic to stabilize potions. The fronds generally have the appearance of fluffy blue feathers, hence their namesake. The rhizoid roots and wood like stems are often used for perfumes as well as potions related to increasing endurance and strength.

Growth Rate & Stages

The Blue Feather Fern takes about two years to grow into full maturity at which point it reproduces with high fidelity. In its younger stages the stems are highly sought out for their rejuvenation abilities. Though this has not been fully proven it is believed that the young shoots are able to smooth the appearance of wrinkles when consumed as a tea. It is generally illegal to sell the tea at this point in the plant's conservation.

Ecology and Habitats

The pH and minerals of the soil and water along the Laira River has always made the river and the surrounding area an excellent habitat for the fern. Here it is often a primary source of food for the Eganza (deer-like creatures, native to the area) and work to keep the naturally sandy-loamy soil from eroding into the river. The rhizoids also work to purify the soil of nitrates and become a sink for natural sources of magic.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The ferns survive through photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation.

Biological Cycle

The Blue Feather Fern is unusual in its tendency to retain its vibrancy throughout the year. Reproduction tends to happen in warmer months, however. As the fern gets older, however, they take on a frostier colour and tend to glow slightly with the magic that they have retained over the years. In their last budding of life, the ferns can sometimes produce trillions of magic infused spores that make for some of the best new sprouts or powerful potions.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The ferns are actually quite sensitive to spikes of magic and light in the area, unfurling and turning toward sources when they appear.

Scientific Name

Tracheophyta plumacaerulae

Conservation Status

Though a long-standing and easy growing plant in the Laira River watersheds and shores, the Blue Feather Fern has recently come under a sort of prolonged dry spell that has made the availability of the plant much more sparse. Many city-states' proximity to the river now consider the plant to be under protection and monopolies have begun to attempt to control the market for medicinal preparations that use the plant. The original, wild version of the fern is the most highly sought after for its expanded variety of uses. Any attempts at making hybrids or subspecies for further agricultural success have led to less potent or more specific variants.

Geographic Distribution