Spiced Nettle

I do not like him and his spiced tongue.

— Lady Imrav, concerning the Lord Gravida, 112 RB

A common and hardy plant found in norther regions of Yule's Heart, often amongst the forests. Spiced Nettle is a leafy plant that grows in harsh climates. It consists of a long green stem on which its leaves and berries grow.
Its leaves and berries had many uses in traditional medicine and cuisine in the north.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Spiced Nettle is often of one long stem that connects the root system to the leaves. The leaves will often sprout berries close to where its leaves branch off. It is a green plant apart from the berries that take on either a yellow or orange hue.

Genetics and Reproduction

The Spice Nettle uses its berries to distribute its seeds. The berries have been found to induce pungency in mammals, but not birds meaning they are usually ingested by birds who then excrete the seeds in other parts of woods. This gives Spiced Nettles a wide area to spread.

Ecology and Habitats

The Spiced Nettle does well to grow in cold and barren areas, often amongst cold woodland in the north amongst the shades and bushes of the woods. The Spice Nettle manages to maintain itself in areas that have long periods of restricted rainfall or solid ground, shirking in the shade during winter months, and producing its berries in the springtime. A lack of water makes the Spice Nettle produce more toxins than areas with plentiful water.

Additional Information

Domestication

The Spiced Nettle is one of a few flora that is cultivated in Yule's Heart for trade. Some farms make use of a small patch of ground, surrounding a yew or rowan tree, and cultivate a number of Spice Nettle plants for their leaves and berries. The berries are harvested in spring and leaves are harvested all year round. 
Those in domestic use often are found to grow berries of a decidedly orange hue, likely cultivated as they look more appetising and exotic than the often found yellow hue in the wild.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The Spice Nettle has known uses in cuisine and traditional medicine.
The berries of the Spice Nettle have been used for their pungency in dishes in the north, including and not limited to Six-Day Stew. The sense of spiciness is said to provide the Yuletyde people an "inner fire", a term often used in Yuletyde culture.
The leaves of the nettle have often been considered a way to fight frostbite by supposedly "warming the skin" by rubbing it on the affected areas, and "warming the blood" by ingesting in hot water. It's also said to be able to fight off a cold or fever. Some rub the crushed leaves on their skin as a way to protect themselves from the cold, prior to frostbite. 
Amongst the Yuletyde, a partner might be referred to as a Spice Nettle as a way to describe them as offering "stinging" insults but ultimately be a good friend. A "spiced tongue" is another idiom that finds its way from the Spiced Nettle.

Geographic Distribution

• Yule's Heart