Heartleaf Moss

Plant Name: Heartleaf Moss

Home Island: Zamna

Practical uses: The fruit produced by the moss is very flavorful, and is often eaten, either plain or in desserts. Due to it's sweet cinnamon spice like taste, it is also often used in beverages, such as punch, cider, and even wine. These however are all usually quite expensive, given the fickle nature of the plant. 
Decoration is also another common use for the plant, with it often used to cover particular hideous walls, or sides of houses that someone does not wish to see due to how quickly it spreads under the right conditions. However, some faians are not above keeping it indoors in rather small rock gardens, despite the effort of trimming it back...

Unique properties (N/A if none): The Heartleaf Moss is a curious plant indeed- it will grow on almost any surface, but seems to prefer rocky slopes and watery places. As such it requires an enormous amount of water to be kept alive- as well as warmth and/or sunlight. After all, come every single winter, the plant dies off almost immediatly after the first snow, unable to handle the cold weather.  Thankfully, the seeds from the fruits drop off at the end of summer, meaning the plant's legacy will continue on another year. 
Another thing of note is that during the autumn, the leaves of the plant, which are shaped like hearts, turn a shade of pink- however, the shades may vary depending on the plant and the conditions surrounding it. The leaves themselves are of a soft texture, though they may very in size, shape, and of course, color. 
The moss bears fruit only during the summer- with fruits varying from the size of cherries to the size of peaches, with water being the main factor in their size. These fruits are said to taste like cinnamon with a district fruity twist and a bit of a spicy punch. They are simply known as Heartfruit, though many a faian has made attempts to change the name in the past due to wanting a more distinct sound for such a lovely fruit. Though obviously, they have had very little success. 

Blurb/lore (N/A if none): It is said that long ago, a lonely Candle noodle lived in a cottage in Zamna all by herself. One day, she met another noodle with whom she wished to declare her affections- she sought out the perfect plant to help her do so. Alas, she was unable to find such a plant- fortuntately for her, she was a very powerful mage. So, she set out to create the plant of her dreams. Thus, the Heartleaf Moss was born. And what of your lover you might ask? They hated the moss. Her feelings were rejected, and so she threw out the plant, and died shortly thereafter of heartbreak. Even so, the plant continued to grow, thriving despite all the odds. 
It is a story of how both beautiful, and truly, truly, fickle love can be. 

Submitted By WesternGates
Submitted: 4 weeks ago ・ Last Updated: 2 weeks ago