Gorgervine

Gorgervine is an invasive carnivorous plant species indigenous to the southern jungles of the continent of Karamtal. Though considered a parasitic plant in its home region, it has been transported and somewhat cultivated in some of the other parts of the world due to its unique medicinal properties.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Gorgervine is roughly comprised of four distinct parts: the "stem", the flower, and the vines.

The "stem" is a vestigial organ resembling a sack that is all that is left from the plant's life on the ground before it latches onto a surface to pull itself up and become fully parasitic. The total apparatus of the flower receives, processes, and houses most of the nutrients. The vines fasten the plant to the host and burrow enough to be able to draw some of the nutrients, even though most of them come from external sources.

Genetics and Reproduction

At the height of summer, Gorgervines expel clouds of pollen from all of their flower bulbs. Then they depend on the wind and small animal and insect carriers to spread it to another Gorgervine to reproduce with. Failing that, self-pollination is a viable option. In late fall, the pollinated flower bulbs close and begin the process of hardening and shrinking, before turning into a hard nutty seed that either drop to the ground or get carried away by an animal.

Growth Rate & Stages

Gorgervine grows a stem from the ground that sprouts first tendrils in search of a hard surface to grasp on - preferably mineral or wood. If that fails, the plant dies off over the next 4-6 months. If it manages to latch onto such surface, it begins directing more and more tendrils (that thicken and grow into vines by then), until it finds purchase.

After successful grafting onto the host surface, the Gorgervine pulls its own stem from the ground and uses its nutrients to grow its first flower. Over the period of next 3-4 months it stores nutrients from feeding, only to then begin to expand and grow, spreading across the host's surface and growing new flower bulbs every 1.5-2 meters.

Ecology and Habitats

Gorgervines thrive in hot and humid climates, mainly jungles and mangroves of Karamtal. Those transplanted elsewhere have shown no aptitude for adaptability, which meant that growing it required simulating their original habitat's conditions.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Gorgervines are carnivorous plants that procure the majority of their nutrients from living animals. Namely, their favoured prey are reptile species from their biomes, especially of the toxic and venomous kinds. They hunt them by luring them to their bulbs when they sense their proximity. The flower opens and the interior begins emitting a heat pattern that is meant to be mistaken for a tree frog. The reptile pounces on their perceived prey and bites or tongues onto an extremely sticky "cushion" inside the bulb that traps them in place while the flower closes its petals around them. The plant then begins digesting its prey alive from the head down, the petals working the animal's length in as the acidic interior breaks down the next part over the course of a few days.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

It is implied that the Gorgevines break down their prey's inherent venomousness or toxicity into useful proprietary nutrients for their internal use. These traits make Gorgervines extremely useful when properly cultivated, fed, and nourished. If all of that is accomplished and if extracted by an expert, Gorgervine extract can be used as an ingredient in the creation of remedies for a few notably dangerous conditions - poison of animal origin, some strains of viral diseases, and muscle paralysis from a few dangerous sources.

With the surface barely scratched on the implied potency of Gorgervine extract, alchemists, herbalists and other researchers believe there are even more uses that can be discovered. However, it remains dangerous when used or prepared by an untrained practitioner, so further discovery is not without risks.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Gorgervine is able to perceive its environment through its vines and the extremely sensitive petals of the flower bulbs. It also seems to be able to react to sounds in close proximity to it, though all it does is make the flower bulbs open up to attempt to draw potential prey.

Origin/Ancestry

Carnivorous Vines

Lifespan

Varies, but is at least 3 years.

Average Length

A single Gorgervine can over time spread over surfaces up to 30 m in length and height.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Gorgervine stem and vines are of a pale desaturated green colouration, that grows darker during summer months until the plant pollinates. However, the most notable features are the veiny big-petalled purple flowers, with a milky white interior cushion that emits mild heat.

by Sephiroth Art

Potion made from distilled petals of Gorgervine.
This dangerous potion was made by an amateur, because the extract was not distilled from the petals themselves.