Black Root
One of the few crops that are able to grow in the barren wasteland that is Serpé is the Black Root. This is mostly due to the fact that the Black Root is more of a weed than a true crop. As such it requires little to no maintenance and will grow anywhere and everywhere.
It is an incredibly invasive species of plant and will aggressively kill all other plants that it comes into contact with, all apart from Blood Hops which has other means of sustaining itself. The Serpéans have attempted on several occasions to introduce new crops into the ecosystem to no avail.
The Black Root is recognisable by its characteristic silver leaves spotted with black dots. The leaves are broad and it stands at a maximum of 16 inches. However, it is what is below the ground that is of most interest to the Serpéans. Once pulled from the ground they reveal a deep black root, roughly 2 feet in length and a foot in width. They are almost impossible to pull straight out of the ground by hand and need to be removed with a shovel or other tool with which to pry them loose.
While this root is a staple in any Serpéan soldiers rations, it is completely inedible when raw. Should a soldier foolishly decide to consume the root without first boiling the toxins out of it, they will soon find themselves suffering from a severe case of dysentery. Many a soldier has been known to have lost their lives because of this, having wasted away on the latrine.
When the root has been boiled sufficiently, however, it becomes edible, tasting of stale bread. This would not normally be enough to encourage the use of the root in food, considering the dangers it presents. The reason it has become so prevalent in Serpéan rations, beyond its availability, is because of its ability to fill a soldier's stomach after only a few bites.
This means that a soldier can be issued with a single serving of prepared Black Root in their rations and be sufficiently fed for the next week. This does not mean, however, that the soldier will be receiving a particularly nutritious meal, just that they are not likely to die of starvation.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
The leaves of the root do not produce pollen. As such it is not capable of reproducing via the spreading of spores. It instead secretes a liquid from its root, the same liquid that needs to be boiled off in order to make it safe for consumption. This liquid then spreads into the soil which, once it has solidified, begins to grow and its leaves sprout from the ground. The reason why the human body has such a violent reaction to this liquid is that it begins to solidify inside the body and attempts to sprout through the consumer's skin. The body then attempts to expel the liquid, and the subsequent roots beginning to grow, in whatever way it can.
Growth Rate & Stages
A single Black Root will begin spreading its toxin immediately after being planted. Within a week of being planted, up to 10 more sprouts will be found nearby, all of which will also begin spreading their toxins. Once the leaves have reached their maximum height of approximately 16 inches it is ready to be plucked.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Black Root sustains itself via photosynthesis. The silver leaves of the root taking in what little sunlight breaks through the grey Serpéan skies. It also passively consumes whatever nutrients it might find in the ground as it spreads, however, considering the barren nature of the land, these are relatively sparse.
Biological Cycle
As it has adapted to its hazardous environment, the Black Root is no longer affected by seasonal changes. It is more than capable of growing in all weathers. As time passes, however, the toxins that a single root is able to secrete begin to dry up until it can no longer produce the liquid. This can take several months to occur, and in that time that root will have produced hundreds of other roots who will have themselves produced thousands more.
Scientific Name
Althaea Mortiferum
Conservation Status
Due to its aggressive, invasive nature, there is no need for the Black Root to be protected. More effort is put into attempting to control the rate at which they spread, as without this effort their growth could quickly go out of control. When the Serpéans attempted to introduce fruit and vegetables imported from Bastique, it wasn't long before they found the telltale silver leaves sprouting from inside the carrots and tomatoes.
Geographic Distribution
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