Pex'il

This plant is grown for two reasons. The first is the nutritional value of the tuber it sprouts, which is often found in many dishes throughout the plateau. When cooked, the material takes on a slightly bitter flavor that highlights the other foodstuffs that accompany it. The second reason is the energizing qualities found in its leaves. When mixed with drinks, Pex'il leaves contribute a tasteless vitalizing agent that many on the plateau enjoy.
The plant itself grows tall, rivaling the height of the local maize crops. The stem and leaves are a light purple, though contact with liquids seems to wash the color away. The leaves are lightly serrated, angled inward toward the stem, and grow in bundles of three. The tuber and root system are a deeper purple, though this color also fades away with washing or cooking. Two animals are known to eat the pex'il raw: the dog-like pexta and the qui'ma wasps. The pexta seem to eat only the vegetable, growing agitated and aggressive if chased off. Many believe the pexta are addicted to the plant. The qui'ma not only subsist on the plant, but they built nests along the stems, often with a similar color to hide them from predators.
Originally found around Lake Yapil, the people of the Plateau have cultivated large crops for several centuries. Aside from wool sheared from mountain sheep, pex'il is the major export of the region. The appearance of foreigners has instigated some rumblings from growers who fear that these men wish to gain control of pex'il crops for outside interests. This has led to some altercations and actions to push the new growers out; occasional attacks by pexta or unseasonal ground fires have occurred in the recent months, with many worrying that combat between growers is not too far in the future.