Sunny Bitterbush

This evergreen-type shrub bush is a widespread growth across most non-extreme climates of the world. It is mostly ignored, considered pretty but useless, but it does have a few niche and important uses across the world. Most commonly, it is known to be easy to burn in almost any conditions, thus making for good firestarting.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Sunny Bitterbush grows in a naturally fairly round shape, though like most shrubs it can be shaped by careful care and pruning into other shapes. They grow typically 2-3 feet tall at maturity. An individual bush usually has no more than three "branching" divisions from the main stalk, but they can grow close together and entwined in a way that makes it hard to distinguish from one another.

The leaves are oval shaped, with many serrations on the edges, a dark green in color and come to a point. Each branch ends in a set of six leaves. A normal formation of berries is three together, though occasionally one or two will be seen. The berries themselves are round and smooth, and a bright yellow in color. The branches and wood of the tree is a orange-brown color.

Genetics and Reproduction

The bush reproduces by the spread of the seeds within its berries - which are carried by the few species of bird which are resistant to its toxicity.

Growth Rate & Stages

The bush reaches full size usually within the first 3-5 years of growth, and produces berries after that.

Ecology and Habitats

The Sunny Bitterbush thrives best in a partial to full sun, temperate growth environment. A mature plant can survive some periods of drought but they don't like to be too wet. They don't like to be "choked" and tend to do poorly if they have to compete with an undergrowth that is too heavy.

Additional Information

Domestication

These can be grown as house plants or as landscape plants, both indoor and outdoor, and it is not unheard of due to the attractiveness of the plant. However, it is not a very popular house plant outside of botanical collectors and experts, due to the risk of poisoning if children, pets, or too-curious and unwise adults ingest the toxic berries. In order to be kept indoors, the plant must be kept pruned to keep it from getting too big.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Wood - Firestarting

The wood of the plant contains an especially flammable oil, and will almost always light, no matter how green or wet, and so is prized by those familiar with outdoorcraft for starting fires. It also burns hot and clean, making it ideal for small cooking and camping fires and other specific uses.

Leaves - Bittersun Tea, Paste, & Chewing

The leaves of the plant, when chewed, used as a paste, or brewed into tea, have an analgesic effect. It's incredibly bitter to the taste, and comes with the side effect of terrible dreams and a persistent fever and sometimes sweats; but it's a known remedy, cheap, and sometimes better than nothing. Longterm users do develop somewhat of a immunity to the fevers and sweats over time, but never to the dreams.

Berries - Dreamdraught and Drugs

The berries of the plant are toxic in more than miniscule doses or when improperly prepared. They are used by the clergy of The Senary for The Dreaming ritual in a concoction called Dreamdraught, which is a powerful hallucinogen. Outside of this finely honed and closely guarded secret recipe, drugs created with this berry tend to be very potent, very addictive, and more than occasionally deadly. It's easy to get the formulations wrong, and it's easy to overdose. Some common names for these drugs are Epiphany, Gold Dust or Grave Dust, and Sunshine.

Sunny Bitterbush

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Conservation Status

Common

Average Height

2-3 Feet

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dark green, serrated leaves with a pointed end; golden yellow berries, and orange-brown wood.

Geographic Distribution

All Non-Extreme Climates

Each branch of the bush ends in six serrated leaves, and if it has berries they are usually found in groupings of three.