Arctic Lupine
| Arctic Lupine | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||
The Arctic Lupine can be found in the coldest of tundra and even on the sides of mountains. This flower has incredible tolerance towards cold, but the harsh environments make it very rare for these plants to fully grow. Their roots are under the ice or under the rock where habitable dirt is, and a stem will grow throughout its lifespan towards the surface. The plants, upon being crushed, seem to have a healing property and can be used to boost the growth rate and life cycle of another flower. Furthermore, when the petals are crushed, they release a strong, sweet smell which can be used in expensive perfumes.
Appearance
Due to the environment in which the Cyris Lupinem resides, it may be quite difficult to spot one. The white colouration blends almost seamlessly with the surrounding snow. Some individuals have come to call the Arctic Lupine the “Snow Blossom”. The flower only starts growing its petals near the end of its life cycle when the tinter is ending and the snow starts melting. The white petals with a cyan hue on the edges of said petals will appear once the first signs of spring arrive. It grows these petals in a short amount of time, yet it is not fully known how long it actually takes. Once the flower fully blooms, it will only remain bloomed for a short amount of time before withering. Due to this, the rarity of this plant has been high, as obtaining these flowers during their prime stage is nearly impossible.
When the flower does bloom, it actually does not release pollen but very small seeds that have a deep purple colouration to them. These seeds easily get carried away by the wind and plant themselves in the ground when the snow fully melts. Upon planting themselves, they may stay as seeds for many months before the first signs of rooting are observed. Only starts to grow at the end of summer. They spend all autumn growing in the ground before sprouting their stem upon the first snowfall.
In even rarer instances, the flower may have its colour palette swapped. Making the stem white and the petals cyan with a white hue. The seeds take on a brighter pink colouration instead of the usual deep purple. Even with this unique look, the flower’s lifespan and usage remain the same.
Impact on the Ecosystem
Due to the rare nature of the flower, the impact on the local flora ecosystem is minimal. The plant is easily affected by nearby plant life and may wither if too many are in the vicinity of it. This is because the flower needs more nutrients than usual plants to form itself. The plant is also delicate and is easily overgrown by other nearby plant life. For animals, the Arctic Lupine can be a blessing as the flower’s seeds near the end of their lifetime contain small amounts of nutrients, which can help the smaller animals through the last bits of winter before transitioning into spring. Due to the small amount of nutrients, larger animals have little use as they need more nutrients than smaller animals to survive.
Upon withering at the end of its life cycle, the stem and any remaining seeds that may not have been ejected from the flower will quickly start to rot, making the flower attractive to insects that emerge in the early stages of spring, as it makes it perfect for insects to lay their eggs within the plant's rotting parts or feed on those parts themselves.
Usage
The Cyris Lupinem, as it is known by the great botanists and herbologists, is a rare flower to find in these environments. The plant was used long ago by Denur healers to heal the wounded, as this flower has a lot of healing capabilities. The healing properties of the plant are incredibly effective in curing illnesses and easing severe pains. The powder resulting from crushing the petals, when mixed with manure, has a positive boost to the growth rate of other flowers. This not only boosts their growth rate but also extends their lifecycle up to several weeks.
Not only can the flowers be used for medicine, but they also give off a strong, sweet smell when crushed into a powder. This has been used to craft exotic and expensive perfumes to be used by royalty or rich families alike. Another unique property of the crushed petals is that they make the perfume feel cold, making it most popular in the warmer months of the year. However, due to the rarity of the Arctic Lupine, people have resorted to other options, as the hefty price one has to pay for even a small sample of an Arctic Lupine perfume often deters buyers.
| Navigation - Plants & Fungi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||