Blood Stem

The blood stem is a small, leafy plant that grows across the Sixlunds, Keledon, Akaryth, and throughout the northern lands.
This annual plant sprouts up in fields and forests in the late spring, growing a small bunch of leaves that remain close to the ground. As the plant matures two to four stems begin to grow from the center of the plant, pale green in color.These stems are very rigid and woody, slowly darkening over time to a blood red. By late summer it begins to grow small blossoms, purple in color, 
The plant is a pain to farmers, tending to choke out the root systems of nearby crops, however it has medicinal uses as well. The leaves are an ingredient in an excellent poultice to treat burns and boils, while the flowers, when mature, can be boiled to make an eyewash to treat various complaints. The stems and their sap can be harvested when the plant is young, and a simple wine made from them. However, once they have turned red, and then purple, the stems are a stinging irritant that causes small, painful blisters on exposed skin. 
At the end of its growth cycle, the purple flowers darken, fold in on themselves, and then burst open, scattering seeds nearby. Blood stem is therefore often found growing in clusters. The seeds are poisonous to humans, causing severe gastronomic distress and in high enough concentrations, death, and a deadly, though slow and painful poison can be made from them. It must be ingested to kill. However they have no ill effect on birds or rodents, who consume them readily.
Category:Herbalism
Category:Plants
Category:Amallon