Acer Tree

=== Overview ===
The Acer tree is a large rare ashen-white tree. It grows in swampy land in small sparse clusters. It grows to be about 15 meters high with a wide trunk, roughly 1 meters in diameter. Its leaves are small but thick, yellow-green, spoon-shaped leaves. The leaves grow dense the trees foliage casts a dark shadow below itself. As a defence mechanism, as a reaction to damage or vibration, the Acer tree can clamp its leaves shut. This causes a small explosion as the leaf tears itself apart. While the explosion itself is relatively small, it causes a loud noise and can hurt anyone climbing on the tree.
During late spring, 15-30 leaves bloom into flowers, turning the yellow-green leaves into long, bronze-pink strips covered in a nectar and pollen. The Acer Tree relies on insects to spread its pollen and is able to pollinate itself, not needing another Acer Tree to be close. Once pollinated, the leaves wither and at its base, a large melon sized fruit grows. 
The fruit is inedible and slightly poisonous. It is firm and ashen white in colouration. Ripening in late summer, the fruit falls off the tree. Once it becomes wet, the fruit begins to sprout the sampling for a new tree. If the fruit is within ~20 meters of another Acer Tree, it is unlikely that it will be able to grow a new tree as the competition from the older tree and its dense root system is too great.
=== Usage ===
===== Flower =====
The flowers of the Acer tree, once harvested can be prepared in multiple ways:
Most commonly, the flower is cleaned under running water to remove the nectar and then dried to be brewed into tea or crushed into a powder. Cleaned Acer tree flowers are known for their calming effects on the stomach and respiratory system, relieving symptoms of mild illness, food poisoning and allergies. 
Sometimes the fresh flower with the nectar is chopped up and cooked down into a syrup. Acer tree flower syrup is known for causing a long lasting feeling of fullness, relieving hunger for a few days or even weeks. This is often accompanied by rapid weight loss as consumers stop having a drive or even interest in food. In rare cases people who consumed large quantities of syrup died this way from starvation.
Category:Flora
Category:Crafting Material