Wind Catcher Aetherfolium Solaris
Flowering Plants
Wind catcher
The Wind Catcher is an elegant and highly sought-after plant, characterized by its distinctive striped leaves and flowers. Its foliage varies in shape from smaller, rounded lower leaves to larger, split, and pointed ends higher up. As it blossoms, the flower bud transitions from yellow to blue, opening to reveal clusters of anthers that glow faintly in the night.
Home Island: Zamna
Rarity: ✦✦✦✦✦
Growth Cycle: A slow-growing perennial, the Wind Catcher blossoms annually from late Bloom Season to early Bay Season. Its growth requires very specific environmental factors.
Unique Properties: The plant features distinctive striped leaves and a color-changing flower that shifts from yellow to blue while blooming. It only thrives on the high cliffs of Zamna, with large, thickened roots for water absorption. Its growth is incredibly sensitive, requiring a specific level of water purity and direct exposure to the sun at all times. Successful blooming outside its native habitat is virtually unheard of.
Ease of Cultivation: ✧✧✧✧✧
Practical Uses: While the Wind Catcher’s roots offer various medicinal benefits and its leaves work well against infections, these uses are uncommon due to the difficulty of obtaining and cultivating the plant. Instead, it is used in alchemy, where its flowers become vital ingredients in elixirs for preservation and prolonging life. However, high doses are not recommended, as they may result in a deep, external slumber.
Value: ✦✦✦✦✦
Lore and Cultural Significance: Before its initial discovery after Lightkeeper settlement, mentions of the plant can be found in old records from past Ruptour civilizations. The most prominent text is the Tales of the Sun, a collection of short stories. One of these stories mentions the plant under the name of ‘Sun Eater.’ It describes an ancient dragon that ate the sky’s morning blue and night’s stars, only to be slain by the gods for its insatiable hunger. The remnants of the dragon became the ‘Sun Eater’ plant. Though later renamed the ‘Wind Catcher’ upon rediscovery, there are ongoing efforts by Ruptours to restore its original, rightful name.