Lifeforms · Flora · Forest/ Jungle
Widowthorn
A hardy deep blue vine with needle-like thorns and bright orange flowers. If pricked by Widowthorn one should quickly seek the antidote or a natural remedy, the poison secreted by the thorns induces drowsiness and saps one's strength.
Description
A hardy deep blue vine with needle-like thorns, accented by small, orange blossoming flowers. Widowthorn grows thickest near streams and in the forest shade.
The plant's flowers are edible giving off a faint but sweet smell, reminiscent of peaches. Many woodland creatures eat the flowers and bulbs. In the early spring the bulbs seem to be addictive, and in this, the Widowthorn acts it's vilest. As the bulbs grow scarce, small creatures get caught in it's needle thorns, dying from the bloodloss caused in their deep slumber. The dead beasts decompose in the thicket, feeding the Widowthorn for another budding and blooming in the summer.
The poison is not so dangerous for people or larger animals though, but still causes drowsiness and is typically cut back from roads and civilization.
Properties
The thorns of Widowthorn plants secrete a toxin that saps the strength of those passing through it, causing drowsiness and a desire to sleep. This effect makes the ground thorns and sap of the plant fine ingredients for sleeping draughts and a common find in medicine kits.
Widowthorn has been used to soothe the dying as well as in poisons.
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Just love it.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! I'm working on fleshing out the mundane creatures & plants of a worldbuilding project.
Nice, I like the details. Notes like this are helpful for your players, it gives them tools for creative problem solving.
Nicely done
Can you feed the sleeping/dead animals to others and they are put to sleep just the same?
Is the poison in the thorns (blow darts) or once removed they don't retain it?
Non-coagulating so handy putting on blades to keep those wounds seeping.
Nice additional danger for any world!!
By the time the sleeping/dying animals are found there are usually carrion birds or ants nearby. Some beasts such as the Bulette have thick enough hides/bony plates to pass through unhindered and others still, may be immune to the effect.
By the time the sleeping/dying animals are found there are usually carrion birds or ants nearby. Some beasts such as the Bulette have thick enough hides/bony plates or are large enough to pass through unhindered and others still, may be immune or highly resistant to the effect.