Caffotus (Caff'uh-TUSS)
The caffotus vine is a deciduous perennial vine common to Iyr and Ustraria, and is especially valued for its prolific seed bolls, from which plaincloth is produced.
Stylized depictions of both the flowering and the seed-bearing vine are common in art.
Basic Information
Anatomy
A dense bulb anywhere between a few inches and a foot and a half thick is the anchor for up to a dozen vine stems with aerial roots; smaller offshoot branches (also with aerial roots) may be present on older, particularly happy specimens. Hundreds of flowers / seed bolls may be present on a single mature vine stem.
Biological Traits
Stems are a russet-brown. Leaves are a glossy green and are shaped like a stacked line of three circles, and turn yellow then brown at the end of the season. Flowers run along the entire length of the vine from their separate long stems, and are spoon-shaped and down-ward drooping, with a shorter upper lip and prominent yellow stamen; the single encompassing petal is bright purple with a dark violet inner throat, with six small surrounding light green sepals. The seed bolls are between 2" and 6", and pale orange; clustered inside and attached to some of the boll are tiny black seeds.
Growth Rate & Stages
Quick-growing and resilient provided its bulb isn't disturbed.
Ecology and Habitats
In the wild it favors sunny, somewhat arid environments with clear rocky areas for climbing to better-enable its wind pollination and seed dispersal. However, it will also happily climb buildings or other constructed, non-living surfaces. Adequate drainage is a must to avoid bulb-rot.
Biological Cycle
Seed bolls arrive in the Season of Closing.
Additional Information
Domestication
Small-scale farming of the vines on specially-constructed angled trellises is proving promising for larger-scale farming.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Fibers of the seed boll are harvested to be woven into plaincloth. The bulb is technically edible in much the same manner as an onion, but due to the value of the seed bolls this is uncommon.
Lifespan
20 Years
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Average Height
6-20ft
Geographic Distribution
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