Shawlsnare Amphyllum

Jolted by the movement of passing ships, the little blue-green ribbons wave up at us. Hello, little weeds!

— delighted traveller

Amphyllum, known more colloquially as shawlsnare or shawlsnare amphyllum, is a type of seaweed found in the northern seas. It is most common around the east and west coasts of Iskaldhal from approximately Naarim to Hvalgora, and then again from Volkur to K'zudh Ev, and across the northwestern coasts of Valathe. It grows poorly in warm waters, and cannot grow at all in too-icy temperatures.
It gained popularity as a food, a dental aid, and a source of weaving material through extensive use and cultivation by Iskaldhal's native populace, particularly due to the ease at which it may be farmed. Other varities of the species can be found throughout the remainder of Iskaldhal's southern coastline, with some particularly resilient kinds lingering around the coastline and depths of Siellumearra. These have been vital as a source of life and trade for the Vaeltajat and other snow-dwelling tribes.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Shawlsnare was named for the long, leather-like fronds its most common form takes on, reminiscent of the dangling threads and ribbons of a nereid's shawl. These are fronds that branch dichotomously, creating the shawl-like display.

Preparing the shawlsnare by Hanhula (via Midjourney)

Its colours vary from olive green to deep blue, and can reach a length of over five metres if given sufficient time to grow - most, however, are usually limited to a length closer to two or three metres before travel or harvest collects them.
To prevent its sinking and to maintain photosynthesis, shawlsnare has small berry-like airbladders that cascade at uneven intervals, giving it a beaded appearance. Like many types of seaweed, it uses a holdfast to keep itself anchored to rocks.
It grows slowly at a rate of approximately 0.6% a day, but can live for approximately fifty years if not harvested or killed. Growth serums and spells are regularly implemented by the groups that rely on shawlsnare to increase this growth rate; this does affect the seaweed itself, usually intensifying the colours to jewel-tones.
The taste, too, is impacted, but the factor at which it differs is dependant on the source of modification - druidic magic softens the bitter aftertaste of the seaweed, whereas arcane magic or potions can add strong umami notes to the plant's ribbons.

Some is naturally imbued with this magic, and its taste differs accordingly.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

It's not quite a miracle plant, but it's close enough.

— weaver

Shawlsnare amphyllum is famed for its myriad uses. The first is as a foodstuff. Like many kinds of seaweed, shawlsnare is versatile enough to be used in many ways. If eaten raw, it has a strong, bitter taste and a thick, leathery texture, with most of its umami notes hidden. Cooking, stewing, drying, infusing, and fermenting are all methods by which shawlsnare can be prepared.

Shawlsnare Butter

Shawlsnare Tea

Shawlsnare Pasta

Dried Shawlsnare

Shawlsnare Seasoning

Shawlsnare Jerky

It also has dental benefits, especially for sea-dwelling species. Predatory species, sapient or not, will chew on it with their sharp incisors to keep them sharpened, but it is more commonly turned into an emulsified paste that is applied to the teeth using a brush, then washed away.

By combining shawlsnare with acidic salts and special paste concoctions, it can be broken down into a more fibrous form used for weaving. Nereidslock is a naturally blue thread spun from this fibrous seaweed, used throughout coastal communities where flax, cotton, and other staple spinning plants cannot be found.
Additionally, similar treatment can awaken the latent magic captured in shawlsnare. Due to its locations often being dense in ambient magic, especially along the coasts of Iskaldhal, it retains a high level of magical concentration.
When broken down by someone intent on retaining this, it becomes a potent magical ingredient that, on its own, serves to boost the power of aquatic spellcasting. This does, unfortunately, both ruin the taste of the shawlsnare for cooking purposes and also renders it mildly poisonous if not counteracted.
The primary use of magic-infused shawlsnare is in sealamps, for its magical glow does not fade for years at a time and can be amplified by increasing the amount.

Nereidslock by Hanhula (via Midjourney)

Shawlsnare Amphyllum by Hanhula (via Midjourney)

Lifespan

50 years

Conservation Status

Least concern

Average Length

~2.5m

Geographic Distribution

• Iskaldhal
• Valathe

Related Materials

• Nereidslock

Etymology of Amphyllum

Just as the common moniker of 'shawlsnare' derives from the plant's appearance, so too does its scientific name. Amphyllum is a compound word deriving from the nereid twins Amphinome and Amathea, known for their stunning hair and advancements in undersea farming, and the suffix 'phyllum' that denotes leaflike structure in plants.