Balloon-Vine
These strange plants can be found growing on tree limbs, cliff faces and other surfaces that are elevated above ground level, they are remarkable in that they resemble an inflated sphere that floats in the air suspended by a thin vine. There are a number of subspecies that feed on concentrated magic and elemental and planer vortex energy with unique properties as described below.
All members of this species have hollow vines and a bulbus gas filled fruit, their primary means of defense and protection from being eaten by unwanted creatures is one in the same. When punctured the fruit loudly "Pops" scaring off most small life forms and in some cases released explosive and dangerous gasses (See Subspecies below). However the megafauna who eat the fruit whole and spread its speeds are hardly concerned with this tiny popping and in the case of the dangerous subspecies their prefer their seeds be spread to the environments favored by their elemental or planer attunement and thus their bursts are almost always harmless to creatures attuned to them.
The Wild Common Balloon-Vine
Feeding on ambient magical energy these plants are not uncommon in temperate regions where they float lazily on tree limbs. Their fruit is an apple red and they are utterly harmless to if "popped" containing fresh air inside them it is not uncommon for children, fey and whimsical adults to tied off their air filled steams and carry them about or bring them to celebrations. Adding to the amusement when they pop as their tiny practice sized seeds spread in a cascade of bright rainbow specs. They can also easily be transplanted and some enjoy the spectacle of planting them on their roof, archways or gates.
As a source of air they have also been used to supply a breath of it underwater or aid in floatation for poor swimmers.
The Domestic Balloon-Vine
They say it was the elves or maybe gnomes who first took to domestication of the Balloon Vine long ago and have spread this plant to many peoples and places. Unlike many plants the Balloon vine was not refined for its taste or flavor and most agree wild Balloon vines are much better for eating or fermenting.
However what the Domestic Balloon vine lacks as a food it makes up for in shear stunning variety of colors, patterns and size. It is not uncommon for gardeners to proudly grow these vines in new and stunning colors and hold contests based on their size and colors. In one famous instance a Paladian Florist grew a patch of Balloon Vines that resembled Queen Artorias family coat of arms to commemorate her one hundredth birthday.
Alas the process of domestication has left this subspecies with nearly no ability to thrive without the interjection of botanists as the large size and less appealing taste and tendency to be grown in city gardens means their natural herbivores all but have no interest in them.
Geographic Distribution
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