Kitsune Mitt

This variety of Foxglove is undeniably magical in nature. This cultivar was bred and developed in Japan, supposedly by Kitsune, and has since then spread as a popular plant among many decorative magical gardens.

## Description

With its pink-to-purple, drooping, bell-shaped flowers, the Kitsune Mitt is a beautiful yet subtly poisonous plant that is popular in magical gardens as an ornamental flower. Inside each of the nine flowers of each stem are darker spots ringed in pale blue. In moonlight, it faintly glows with a foxfire fluorescence whose hue varies from plant to plant, but is commonly a blue. They are a small species of Foxglove, its stems rarely reaching more than 3' in height. Each green stem has a mottled pattern that also fluoresces in low light.

The entire plant is **poisonous to consume.**

### Magical Properties

In addition to its moonlight fluorescence, Kitsune Mitt has a bizarre habit of illusion, capable of many different effects including making mirror image duplicates of itself, making its flowers appear to be those of a different plant, or simply hiding itself as grass. It does not do these things with any apparent sentience, and instead does them seemingly randomly. A list of recorded illusions that Kitsune Mitt has cast over itself includes:

* A broad leaf to hide itself under
* Camouflaging itself to the same colors as those plants around it
* Appearing wet
* Appearing to be oozing acid
* Appearing to be brown and dead
* Appearing to have fangs
* Appearing covered in butterflies
* Appearing to be a small hole in the ground
* Appearing to be swarming in ladybugs
* An illusion of a mantis
* Turning bright orange
* Changing its scent (one was alarmingly scented of cinnamon rolls)
* Appearing to have bloomed when it hasn't
* Appearing not to have bloomed when it has

Thus, the Kitsune Mitt is known for the following properties:

* Stealth
* Illusion
* Poison
* Area Protection
* Fae detection
* Insincerity

## Habitat

Kitsune Mitt prefers shade and does not tolerate full sun quite as well as other Foxglove species, particularly in hotter or dryer climates. They are found growing naturally in deep forests with rich, moist but well-drained soil, and in shady meadows or along shaded sea-cliffs. Deer and rabbits avoid eating them due to their poison; hummingbirds and honeybees are fond of the nectar, however.

### Harvest

Begin by dispelling any illusion effects created by the plant to confirm and identify what you are working with. Then, with gloves, trim off a blooming stem once all 9 flowers have opened.

### Preparation

The preparation depends upon the intended purpose of the cuttings. The flowers can be kept fresh in a decorative vase with water, and will still fluoresce under lunar light and sometimes still cast minor illusions over itself. Fresh illusions can be encouraged by dispelling whatever effect is active.

Kitsune Mitt can be hung up as a stem to dry. Some recipes require just the flowers, or may require the whole stem and blooms to soak in water. Some use only the water from a vase of fresh blooms.

### Gardening

Kitsune Mitt responds well to indoor potting, greenhouse care, and general magical gardening. Care should be taken to prevent animals and children from accidentally consuming any.

To grow, plant seeds in moist (but not soggy), well-fertilized soil and keep in mostly shade.

## Known Uses of Kitsune Mitt

* Ink for magic scrolls
* Explosive talisman
* Protective talisman
* Simple and Greater Illusion enchantments
* Muffling enchantment
* Lightsbane Enchantment