REFERENCE: Flora of the World of Greyhawk

[Emirikol7]

Subj: Flora of the Flanaess, Intro
Date: 97-03-28 16:04:31 EST
From: Oerthman

In keeping with the 'little things' theme of this invitational, I have compiled
a partial list of
flowers of the Flanaess. These can be used to add detail to outdoor scenes, or
to the
stock of a flower-seller in the marketplace. Some of the more unusual and
useful plants
are detailed, so the next time your PC's get lost in the woods or the desert,
you have
something new to 'spring' on them!

References

The Audobon Society's Guide to North American Wildflowers
1983 World of Greyhawk Setting
The City of Greyhawk Boxed Set
The Greyhawk Monstrous Compendium Appendix

Thanks to QSamantha for permission to use the Dust Flower and the Rain Flower
from
her Sea of Dust contribution to the first Design Invitational.

Subj: Flora of the Flanaess, Pt. 1
Date: 97-03-28 16:04:39 EST
From: Oerthman

On the Flowers of the Flanaess, Common and Rare
By the Sage Winter
City of Greyhawk
Reaping, CY 585

That region of Oerik that we call the Flanaess is home to many species of
plants and
flowers, both common and rare. Some are beautiful, some are benign, some are
ugly, and
a few are deadly. Many are known across the planes in many worlds (albeit by
different
names), while some are unique to the Oerth and the Flanaess. Most scholars
have
concentrated on those that are dangerous to human life, such as the lyrannikin,
needlemen,
vampire cactus, and shambling mounds. Other less adventurous scholars,
including the
illustrious Savant-Sage, have chosen to focus on the larger non-intelligent
forms of plant
life - the baobab, deklo, bronzewood, and oak, among others. Relatively few
have found
it worthwhile to make a study of the smaller types of flora.

Wildflowers blossom in most places across the Flanaess except for the far north
and those
lands so devastated by the recent wars that nothing will grow in their soil.
During the
months of Planting, Flocktime, Wealsun, and Reaping, travelers will pass
through fields
exploding with color. The central Flanaess states of Furyondy, Nyrond, Veluna,
and the
Urnst and Ulek states tend to be especially colorful, as does the plain
surrounding the Free
City of Greyhawk (it should be noted that this is by design, however).

A partial list of these flowers and other plants follows. Those with unique
characteristics,
whether useful or malign, will be described later.

Asters
Baneberry
Bladderpod
Buttercup
Cascade Lily
Cattails
Clover
Daffodil
Daisies
Devil's Claw Creeper
Dragon's Blood Bush
Dust Flower
Fairy Slippers
Geranium
Hanging Moss
Heliotrope
Honeysuckle
Hyacinth
Jasmine
Johydee's Lace (in the lands of the former Great Kingdom)
Ice Lily
Ivory Blossom
Lilac
Lotus
Moonflowers
Nerull's Blossom
Oleander
Orchid
Pansies (known as "elfweed" to the dwarves)
Pelor's Blessing
Periwinkle
Petunia
Phlox
Priest in the Pulpit
Rain Flowers
Roses
Sneezeweed
Sorrel
Spotted Touch-Me-Not
Sunflowers
Trunk Cactus (Saguaro)
Tulips
Venus Flytrap
Violets
Water Lily

<cont>
Subj: Flora of the Flanaess, Pt. 2
Date: 97-03-28 16:04:47 EST
From: Oerthman

Baneberry. The baneberry is a small bushy plant with large leaves and dense
clusters of
small (about the size of a lady's thumbnail) white flowers. It is found
generally in open
woods and thickets. The red fruit of the baneberry grows in clusters of 6-10
small, round,
berries and is, as the name implies, highly poisonous. The northern variety
has smaller,
darker leaves and white fruit, but is otherwise the same.

Bladderpod. The bladderpod grows in hot, arid regions such as the Bright
Desert and the
fringes of the Sea of Dust. Growing to about knee high, the plant sends out
yellow flowers
on short stems in the early spring, or what passes for spring in its
environment. The
bladderpod has saved the life of more than one thirsty traveler, for the
finger-length fruit is
plump, juicy, and nutritious.

Devil's Claw Creeper. Found in the Bright Desert and the arid grasslands of
the West, the
Creeper is a coarse plant with stems lying on the ground. The yellowish-green
flowers are
unremarkable, but the seed pods are eerily similar to the claws of the Bone
Devil, which
some scholars now call the Osyluth, a lesser baatezu. Dried and hardened in a
fire, the
pods are sometimes attached to nets used by the tribesmen of the area to make
it more
difficult to escape.

Dragon's Blood Bush. While not native to the Flanaess, this small bush from
the Amedio
Jungle has been successfully grown in the Hold of the Sea Princes. The bush
grows low
to the ground with sword-shaped leaves that are about 1 foot long. The savages
of the
Amedio jungle believe that these plants only bloom where the blood of a dragon
has fallen.
They coat their arrowheads with the juice from the heart of the plant, which
has mildly
poisonous effects including nausea and a loss of strength. Hold alchemists
have reported
that this juice can be concentrated and rendered into a contact poison that
causes total
paralysis for up to a day. It is believed that the Scarlet Brotherhood has
learned of this
plant and its properties.

Dust Flower. Found in the Sea of Dust, the Dust Flower looks like a fleshy
rose made of
dust. Closer examination reveals that the 'flower' is actually a growth that
exudes a sticky
fluid. Dust sticks to the growth and the flower draws its nourishment from
there.
Cleaned of dust, the flower is edible and full of sweet juice.

Fairy Slippers. Found generally on wooded mountain slopes or in wooded
valleys, the
Fairy Slipper is leafy plant with a few stems in a clump. The plant takes its
name from the
flower, which resembles a small (about finger-length) slipper. The woodfolk
believe that
the fairies cultivate these plants, and they will avoid disturbing them at all
costs. If by
chance they do, they will leave an offering to placate the fairies - salt, a
pail of milk, or a
piece of leather are typical gifts.

<cont>Subj: Flora of the Flanaess, Pt. 3
Date: 97-03-28 16:05:00 EST
From: Oerthman

Hanging Moss. Found in the Vast Swamp, Hanging Moss has long, forked stems up
to 20
feet long, colored gray-green, and often grows hanging from other trees. The
flowers are
very small and white. The stem contains a fine reddish core, almost like human
hair. This
core is very fragile, except on certain varieties that grow deep in the swamp.
In these
species, the core of the stem is still thin as a human hair, but is stronger
than the strongest
rope. The assassins of the Scarlet Brotherhood prize this variety for the
making of thin,
easily concealed garrotes.

Hanging Moss has another, more sorrowful, name to the elves: The Hair of the
Maiden.
The legend goes like this: long before the Twin Cataclysms shook the Oerth and
humans
migrated into the Flanaess, a small tribe of elves lived in the Menowood. The
Menowood
was much larger then, and places of it were very dark and evil. Lyrannikin and
other evil
plants abounded in these spots. One day a beautiful elven girl wandered away
from the
tribe's usual territory into a region of the wood close to the Vast Swamp. One
of the
lyrannikin saw her from afar and lusted after her. He pursued her with his
black heart
aflame, and she fled in to the Swamp, her red hair trailing behind her like a
banner. After
many miles, she could go no further. Calling on the name of Rillifane, she
cried out for
help. The god responded, turning her into a large tree, with moss replacing
her hair.
Foiled, the lyrannikin cursed her to remain a tree forever.

Ice Lily. The Ice Lily is found only in the Cold Marshes, now under the
dominion of Iuz,
the Old One. There is considerable debate in scholarly circles as to whether
or not this is
actually a plant. Regardless, the Ice Lily blooms in the coldest months of the
year, often
sending out roots into the snow instead of the ground. Its flower resembles a
crystal rose,
though it is flexible, not brittle. All attempts to grow them elsewhere have
failed, even in
magically-created 'coldhouses', so it seems that some property of the Marshes
is at work
here. Prior to the Wars, spellcasters exploring the area reported that this
plant could be
used as a substitute material component in many cold-based spells, including
Ice Storm
and Resist Cold.

Ivory Blossom. These large white blossoms bloom in the depths of the Gnarley
Forest,
and are highly desired by the wealthy in the Free City as decorations.

Lotus. Several varieties of lotus grow across the Flanaess, but the rarest is
the black lotus,
symbol of the Baklunish goddess Xan Yae. These grow only in areas sacred to
the
goddess, and are highly prized by her followers. If the petals are eaten raw,
certain
madness will result. However, careful preparation will yield a powder that,
when inhaled,
gives great clarity of mind. Any mental tasks attempted by the user become
easier. Time
seems to slow for those affected, enabling warriors to react more quickly, and
mages to
memorize spells at double the normal rate. The effects last for approximately
an hour, but
it is not safe to breath more powder for at least a week. A second dose taken
within a
week can lead to addiction. This humble sage has seen the drooling, weeping,
wreck of a
warrior laid low by this addiction, and would strongly caution the foolish to
avoid it.

<cont>
Subj: Flora of the Flanaess, Pt. 4
Date: 97-03-28 16:05:08 EST
From: Oerthman

Moonflowers. Found only in the Cairn Hills north of the Free City of Greyhawk,
these
unusual flowers change color with the phases of the moons. Some are tied to
Luna,
others to Celene, and some to both moons. The flower will be a brilliant white
on the full
moon, slowly fading through the colors to black as the moon wanes, and
increasing again
to white as the proper moon waxes. These flowers are glorious to see on a
Midsummer's
night, shining brightly under the light of the moons. The more practically
minded of you
should note that these flowers are used in the brewing of a potion of Rainbow
Hues, and
as material components in the spells Color Spray, Prismatic Spray, Prismatic
Wall, and
Prismatic Sphere.

Nerull's Blossom. Growing in thickets and clearing of wooded areas, these rare
climbing
plants have blue or violet star-shaped flowers with a yellow 'beak' in the
center. In the
early summer this plant bears a greenish berry that slowly turns red as summer
wears on.
The berry is slightly toxic at first, but grows progressively more poisonous as
summer
wears on. By early fall when the fruit begins to fall, a small drop of the
juice of this berry
is enough to condemn a strong man to a hideous, painful death. The victim
breaks out in
bleeding sores, a high fever, and the skin becomes hypersensitive, so that any
touch causes
great pain. It is highly prized by the minions of Iuz and the priesthood of
Hextor in the
Great Kingdom, who use it as an aid in interrogation.

Pelor's Blessing. These colorful flowers are best known for their habit of
closing up at
night, and opening their blooms as the sun rises. A poultice made from these
blossoms
gathered at dawn will greatly speed the healing of wounds.

Rain Flowers. Found only in the Sea of Dust, these short-lived flowers bloom
only after
one of the rare rain showers of that region. They are colorful periwinkle-like
flowers.
Little certain knowledge of them exists save for the fact that they last only
for a day.
However, the inhabitants of the Sea of Dust prize them highly, so there may be
some
beneficial property unknown to us at this time.

Sneezeweed. This daisy-like flower with drooping petals is found in swamps and
wet
meadows, where it grows up to 5 feet tall. Inside the flower is a
greenish-yellow ball of
pollen which can cause severe distress if inhaled, as this humble sage can
attest to.
Evidently the plant reproduce by dropping pollen when an animal brushes it.
The sneezing
of the animal helps the pollen to remain airborne for a longer period of time.
It is a
primary component in Dust of Sneezing and Choking.

Trunk Cactus. The trunk cactus might be considered a tree due to its size (up
to 50 feet
tall), but it more properly belongs with the flowers due to its structure. The
tall, thick
trunk is covered with spines, but the inside is very juicy. If one cuts the
top off of one of
the smaller plants, hollows out the inside, and replaces the top, in about an
hour the
hollow will be filled drinkable liquid. The Trunk Cactus is found in the
Bright Desert as
well as the Sea of Dust. Some adventurers have reported seeing treant-like
creatures
resembling the cacti moving among large patches of Trunk Cactus, but these
reports are
unconfirmed. It is known that needlemen generally dwell near these patches.

[GREYTALK] Flanaess Flora
Date: 98-03-23 15:59:45 EST
From: ACER...@AOL.COM (ACERERAK)
Sender: GREY...@MITVMA.MIT.EDU (The GREYtalk Discussion List)
Reply-to: GREY...@MITVMA.MIT.EDU (The GREYtalk Discussion List)
To: GREY...@MITVMA.MIT.EDU

This is a continuation of Oert...@aol.com's "Flowers of the Flanaess"
article.

FLANAESS FLORA
By Randy Richards

Dinotherian
This species grows primarily in the Sulhaut Mountains. The bushy body of
the plant grows close to the ground, and can grow as high as 15 feet with a
width as much as 30 feet. The flowers bloom in high summer with a tulip-like
shape. These flowers are typically red, but blue and yellow varieties are
know. Some of these blossoms can grow as large as 6 feet. There is a Bakluni
legend that says giants cultivated these flowers to use as gifts to their
loved ones.

Enemy's Blood
The bush has 9-inch long dagger-shaped leaves. The Suel believe that
these plants only bloom where the blood of an enemy has fallen (which has its
basis in reality). The Suel warriors sometimes coat their spears with the sap
that drips from the leaves of the plant, which has poisonous effects including
dizziness and paralysis. This same sap also contains seeds, which sprout from
the area where the victim decomposes. This small bush is found in the Sulhaut
and Crystalmist Mountains, and on the Tilvanot Peninsula.
Today, the Scarlet Brotherhood cultivates this plant for its own
purposes, using blood as fertilizer. Other sub-species of this plant have
been recorded.

Lendor's Storm
Found only in the Lendore Isles, these flowers bloom only right before
and after a thunderstorm. They are colorful flowers consisting of pink, blue
and yellow petals. The flowers last only for 24 hours, usually opening a full
hour before a rain shower even begins. It is said the flower gets its weather
predicting power from the god Lendor, but in actuality it senses the change in
air pressure and static electricity.

Luquipod
The luquipod grows primarily in the Crystalmist Mountains. The plant is
about 2 feet tall and produces orange flowers in mid to high summer. The
green berry-like fruit is extremely juicy and can provide a good deal of water
to a parched individual. Careful examination fo the berry's oval seeds are
required, for a similar plant with pointy tipped seeds has poisonous fruit.
This species is currently thriving in the Valley of the Mage and Ull.

Pollenrose
Found only in the western Dry Steppes, the pollenrose looks like a flaky
rose made of pollen. Closer examination reveals that the rose is actually a
leaf that exudes a sappy fluid. Pollen sticks to the leaf and the plant draws
its nourishment from there. Cleaned of pollen, the flower is edible and full
of sweet juice. An adapted dusty version of this plants still thrives on the
fringes of the Sea of Dust today.

Simmering Wiltflower
The simmering thrives on the boiling water of the Simmering River. The
brown flower thrives on the shoreline of the near-boiling water of the
channel, and has a wilted appearance - hence the name. At the base of the
river where it empties into the Jerlea Bay, the plant is sparse. Further
upstream in the Hellfurnace Mountains it exists in abundance, and seems
unaffected by the constant ash that infests the area.

Timorous
The timorous grows primarily in the Yeomanry area during late spring and
early summer. It produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers that have a red
streak along the petal edges. Below the surface, the plant grows from a large
bulb measuring about 4-5 inches across. When the plants senses movement
within a 1-2 foot radius it will withdraw suddenly into the ground, nestled
safe inside its bulb. It does not emerge again for 3d4 rounds.

Utoak
The Utoak tree has all the appearances of an oak tree with one exception:
an Utoak tree is only 5 feet tall. Utoak is in most other respects equal to
oak, and can be used for most of the same purposes. This species is now
thought to only exist in the Hornwood Forest.

Jay Hafner B.S. (4/99 add D.C.)--------
Emir...@aol.com, JHa...@nwchiro.edu---

Stop whining about Chiropractic research and find it on MEDLINE:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/

RPG Greyhawk: http://members.aol.com/emirikol7-------