Spiculo Moss

Overview

Found in the dangerous Deep Forest, Spiculo Moss is a rare moss with strange medicinal properties.
The moss itself resembles any other kind of dark green moss, but during the summer months it grows large thorns. These thorns are then broken off to be used as a core ingredient in many dishes.

What they look like

The easy way to identify Spiculo moss is it's large, pale thorns, but those aren't around all year. Other ways to tell include:
1) Leaf color and feeling.
Spiculo moss usually has slightly pink-tinted leaves, and is usually very soft to the touch.
2) Bumps.
Sometimes there are little bumps in the moss, but that just means a thorn is going to grow there.
3) Is it in sunlight?
Spiculio moss does not grow well in direct sunlight, and almost all thorn-bearing patches are in the shade.

Properties and uses

Spiculo moss thorns have a strange substance inside them that is known to interfere with someone's connection to their magic. Most of the time, this would be seen as a negative effect. Loosing connection with magic is almost never good.
There are exceptions, though. There is a condition that affects those with the ability to sense other's magic, causing this ability to be activated non-stop. This can cause quite the headache for the individual, and eating Spiculo thorns has been shown to help ease the pain.

Another interesting use for Spiculo thorns is as monster repellant. Monsters can easily detect the thorns, and since they are somewhat creatures of pure magic, they will stay far away.

Cooking Spiculo Moss Thorns

While the moss isn't edible, the thorns very much are. The general taste can only really be described with this equation:

(Lettuce+Unripe Blackberry)-Lemon = Spiculo Thorn

In other words, it tastes very leafy with a hint of sweet, and some bitterness.

They have a texture similar to the white part of lettuce and are very crunchy. This has made them popular in salads.

As for actually cooking them, the first step is to separate them from the moss. This usually isn't too tricky.
The next step is to cut off the tips. This is optional, but the thorn tips are very sharp and it isn't recommended to eat them. The tips are mostly discarded, but some like to keep them and make tea or smoothies.
After those steps are done, the thorns need to be washed. This doesn't take long, but it can be a hassle depending on how many thorns you're preparing.
Once you finish the steps, you are done! Now they can be cooked or baked into whatever you like. A common recipe is muffins, as the thorns lose some of their bitterness after being cooked. Some also put them in other sweet breakfast dishes, such as waffles or pancakes.
For some reason, they go really well with maple syrup.

Scientific Name

Bryophyta Aculeatus

Geographic Distribution

• The Deep Forest

Continent:
Valyria