Dragonbane

Found in the shade of trees in dense forests, this plant is unassuming to most who come upon it. Small, but a rich green with pleasantly round leaves, it is a pleasant looking plant--especially so when it blooms. Their flowers are small and white, with five angular petals that fold down at the sides in a triangle shape, giving the part of the petal that isn't folded an hourglass shape. This particular shape is unique to the plant, and even those uneducated in its uses will often recognize it. The skilled healer or assassin, however, can spot these small clumps from far away.
Used in healing, it has a potent property--the ability to subdue and make a patient unconscious, or not conscious enough to be in much pain. It also has a numbing effect when the juices of the plant are spread in a wound. When used to knock someone out, the easiest method is to have the patient eat a handful of leaves. However, for quicker results, an extract can be injected into the patient. For these reasons, the plant is also valued by assassins--it's a good thing to tip needles with, as it will often slow down the target. Additionally, when injured, it's always convenient to have a few leaves around to crush into a wound.
Its next, and more rare use, involves dragons. As the name suggests, the plant has an effect on dragons. When enough is injected or eaten, it stops their magic entirely, makes them weak, and slows them down. This property, discovered by dragon-hunters, was a major contribution to the near extinction of the species. A dragon without magic is one that can't fly or fight, and especially combined with its other two effects, a dragon could easily be defeated by a small group of hunters using the plant. It is rumored that the scent of the flowers alone can send a dragon to sleep, and that the touch of the leaves saps their power.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Once a year, all plants in an area bloom following a large rainfall in spring. This lasts for three days, giving off a potent aroma that makes many dizzy.

Growth Rate & Stages

It takes a year for a seedling to mature to a small clump about the size of a head. Their maximum size for one plant is about a watermelon, but they can often seem bigger given their tendency to clump in groups.

Ecology and Habitats

In meadows, nooks, and forests, clustering wherever there is moderate shade and water. As such, they can be often found in the shade of trees. Sometimes there is a large clump of many plants that takes over a shaded clearing. In this case, it can sometimes choke out other plants, but since it likes only a specific environment, it doesn't get far.