Feverleaf

Description

The Feverleaf plant grows as a single upright spray of around a dozen bright red-orange leaves around a core of coiled fern-like stems. The plant grows up to four feet tall.

The leaves of the Feverleaf plant grow up to three feet long, between one and two inches wide. On the underside they transition from a dark green at the base to a dark red at the tip, while the upperside is a bright red-orange. The leaves have a thick, rubbery texture, and when pulled apart break into strings.
When broken the leaves release a clear oil with a sharp, burning scent and taste.

Habitat and Cultivation

Feverleaf grows in damp, humid locations with standing water, such as in swamps and marshes. Feverleaf has proven difficult to cultivate deliberately.

Medicinal Properties

When consumed the oil of the Feverleaf causes a burning sensation, initially in the mouth, but rapidly spreading across the whole body. This is accompanied by a marked rise in body temperature. The burning sensation is followed by an intense itching, and then within a few minutes the symptoms pass.
Ingesting the oil of the Feverleaf can be an effective cure for a variety of diseases, infections and even poisons, which seem to be 'burned out' of the body by the wave of burning and itching.

In the case of particularly badly infected wounds, packing the wound with the fibers of the Feverleaf can be effective at driving out infection that cannot be overcome by consuming it. Some Barber-Surgeonnes will pack a wound with Feverleaf preemptively to prevent infection taking hold in the first place.

Feverleaf is known to produce an allergic reaction in some individuals, causing rashes and even blistering of the skin. This is usually accompanied by vomiting to rid the body of the exposure to the oil, but in the case of wound packing will require removal of the material. Such allergy cannot be overcome by any known means, and can be fatal if prolonged exposure occurs.

Scientific Name

Capsicae Gymnospermia