Flowers & Shrubs

These pages contain details of many flowers found in Britannia, along with unclassifiable shrubs and other plants that do not come under the tree or herb heading.

Blade Plant

"In jungle climes, one finds the blade plant, whose sharp leaves oft collect water for the thirsty traveler, yet can draw blood easily." - Herbert the Lost

The Blade Plant bears a striking resemblance to the Aloe vera which also has a low base of thick, serrated leaves, often filled with a gel-like juice that can be applied to the skin to alleviate the symptoms of abrasions and sores. The Blade Plant is not included in the herbal directory here as there are no known uses (other than for its water retaining properties) in Britannian lore.

Bulrushes
Scirpus species

There are several native aquatic bulrushes in Britannia, often found growing in large colonies in water. Bulrush seeds are eaten by many kinds of birds. Bulrushes are often seen as tall, leafless stems growing in profusion, however there are several small and leafy bulrushes in the equatorial swamps of Britannia. Bulrushes are eaten by ducks and other wildlife.

Bulrushes are bulrush sedges. Stems sharply - to softly-triangular; leaves in some species reduced to sheaths, in other species there are many obvious leaf blades; flowering always on stem tips.

Cacti

Britannian deserts have produced a wide variety of Cactus species, ranging from the cylindrical with vertical ridges of spines, Notocactus Leninghausii - to the flat, plate-like formations that are entirely covered in protective spines (possibly Opuntia rufida). The Pipe Cactus is one of the rarer formations, usually found in arid areas. Many species of bird have adapted to this environment and frequently use the tall column-like structures to build their nests in after hollowing out a small amount of the fibrous pulp that makes up most of the cactus' body.

Desert travellers often find the shorter cylindrical formations a godsend, for they contain large amounts of water that can be accessed with the careful use of a small blade.

Campion Flowers
Silene dioica

Grows up to 1 metre in height.
Hairy biennial or perennial. Hairy leaves are borne in opposite pairs on upright stems. Pinkish red flowers are 20­25mm across and appear March­October; they comprise five petals. It is very similar in appearance to Soapwort.

Cattails
Typha latifolia

Also known as Great Reedmace, Cattails are probably the most familiar of all wetland plants. Their swaying brown flower clusters can be seen at the edges of ponds, rivers, lakes, or just about any place where there is shallow, standing water for at least part of the year.

One of the more obvious things about these plants is their size. The common cattail can grow up to nine feet in height. Some species will even grow to as much as twelve feet in height! Their height, linked with their capacity to withstand saturate soil conditions seems to have been their real tickets to success. Throughout Britannia, cattails and bulrushes are, more often than not, the undisputed rulers of the freshwater marsh.

Probably the most distinctive thing about the cattails are their flowers. Each cattail possesses thousands of tiny brown flowers all tightly compressed into a compact mass on the top of their stems. During late summer and early autumn, these structures will begin to come apart, releasing their seeds into the wind as they do so.

Century Plant
Agave deserti

This agave is said to take 100 years to mature into a flowering plant, but it takes only 40-50 years in its natural habitat.

A short-stemmed perennial forming from a thick, fibrous, rooted crown, the triangular leaves (150-400mm) are gray-green, spined and fleshy, clustered near the ground in a basal rosette. When mature, a large, elongated, spiked stalk with small white-purple flowers grows from the center of the rosette to 2-10m high, growing 100-200mm in a day. Although it does produce seed, the century plant reproduces primarily vegetatively by offshoots produced on underground stems or by bulbs on the inflorescence. Century plants are found in washes and dry rocky slopes, usually in hot deserts. In order to flower, the agave requires large amounts of water.

Sap from the young flower stalk can be fermented and distilled into tequila (a drink rumoured to be produced for the nobility of Nujel'm).

Note: Not to be confused with the herb Centuary.

Fan Plant

The fan plant can be considered as a variant of the palm family. It often grows in tropical regions, and has flat fan-like leaves that give its name. Fan plant leaves can be plaited or woven together to provide adequate protection from the rain, and because of this unique property are often used for the final covering of rattan buildings. Fine examples of such roofing construction can be seen in the villages of the lost lands - the Just Inn of Papua is one of the finest examples.

Fern

Most species of Fern prefer damp - and low light surroundings. They are indigenous to the tropical swamps of Britannia, and can also be found in the Lost lands and much of Ilshenar. Ferns usually reproduce by means of spores which form on the underside of the leaves. It is incredibly rare to find ferns growing in areas other than their preferred habitat.

Lily Pads

The many swamps and lakes of Britannia give rise to a myriad of different aquatic plants. Yellow and white flowers of the lily often adorn the surface of many of these areas. The stems of the plant are usually filled with gases absorbed from the atmosphere, enabling the leaves to stay afloat. The flowers are usually pollenated by dragonflies and other aquatic flying insects.

Orfluer Flowers

"The orfluer is notable for its massive orange-red blossoms, which dwarf marigolds like the sun dwarfs your common fireball spell. The odor of said blooms is best described as peppermint-apple, with a dash of garlic. 'Tis a popular potted plant despite, or perhaps because of, its exotic nature." - Herbert the Lost

It appears that the Orfluer is indigenous to the Britannian countryside, as I have never come across it either in Earthsea, or heard mention of it in the private reference books of Lord British which are rumoured to come from a planet called "Earth".

Pampas Grass

The Pampas Grass is a prolific plant. It often grows up to a few metres in height, terminating in a feathery bloom of off-white seeds. A strong wind will pluck the light seeds from their stem and send them for miles, hence the abundance of the plant in some of the more wind exposed temperate regions. The seed-heads often make pleasant decoration, and are sometimes used in headdresses for carnivals, after a copious amount of dye has been applied.

Ponytail Palm
Beaucamea recurvata

The most striking feature of the Ponytail Palm is the swollen base of the trunk. The texture of the trunk looks and feels scaly like the foot of an elephant and is also known as Elephants Foot. The extraordinary thickening of the trunk serves as a water reservoir against dry spells allowing the tree to go up to four weeks without water causing no ill effects. The Ponytail would make an ideal indoor plant for decoration, a point which has been sadly overlooked by most Britannian homeowners, as it is relatively low maintenance.

Reeds

Reeds, like many of Britannias aquatic and marginal plants, are rather common. Some of the small coastal villages still hold a tradition of boat-building, which uses the foam filled, pulpy stems of the reeds for bouyancy. Many reed stems are woven and bound together to form the bases of rafts and one man fishing craft.

Plaited reed stems can also be used as an effective rope material, though after several months of use, the rope becomes brittle and ineffective due to lack of flexibility. For this reason it is best used for construction purposes.

Rushes
Juncus effusus

Related to the Bulrush, see above.

Saplings

Many small trees are scattered throughout the Britannian countryside, unfortunately their leaves are so similar at such a young age that they are indistinguishable from one another and it is impossible to determine their species.

Small Palm

Small palms are as abundant in the tropics as the saplings are in the britannian heartwood.

Snake Plant
Sansevieria trifasciata

The Snake Plant is also known by the common name of "Mother-in-law's Tongue" and is found in temperate regions, normally preferring shady areas to direct sunlight. It only needs moderate water, and therefore prospers as a house plant or - more commonly in its natural habitat of the nothern and southern deserts of the Lost Lands. It is not so common in the drier deserts of Nujel'm.

The Snake Plant is often known to produce a white flower on a solitary unbranched spike. Its leaves are often flat and slightly curled, up to a few millimetres thick - it is considered a succulent. The leaves often have a dark and light green variegated pattern of lines along their length.

Spider Tree

"The most interesting native tree to Britannia is the spider tree. The reason for its naming is obscure, but may have to do with the twisted gray stalks from which the spherical canopy sprouts. 'Tis something of a misnomer to term these "trunks" as they are spindly and flexible. Spider trees provide a fresh, piney smell to a room and are therefore often potted." - Herbert the Lost

The Spider Tree, it may be noted, resembles Rosemary in its aroma, and structure - unfortunately none have come forward with information as to wether it has culinary uses to match!

Vines

Vines are the bane of the weary traveller, they often entwine themselvs thickly about the bases of trees, catching the unwary by the feet, often upending them into the brush! Vines often grow near ruins, preferring the temporary shade that the fallen walls provide. Ilshenar is rife with vines, that often climb trees - and indeed some of the most spectacular cases can be seen near the Pixie village north of Lakeshire.

Water Plants

Many varieties of water plants grow in the lakes and ponds around Britannia, unforunately due to some of the nastier residents of the waters, I have not had adequate time to classify them!

Weed

Ignored by many (except house builders, I might add!) the humble weed grows profusely in the undergrowth. Its appearance resembles that of a small spider tree, crossed with a bramble.

Whiteflower

"Whiteflowers [also known as Whitehorn] exude a subtle fragrance not unlike that of freshly shaven wood mixed with cool lemon ice. Their tall stands always droop with the heavy weight of their massive blooms, oft as large as a child's head.
The flowers are so large that one may scoop out the pollen in handfuls, and during the spring season many a prank hath been played by idle boys 'pon their sisters by dumping said pollen into their clothing drawers, causing sneezes for days." - Herbert the Lost

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