Bycha Zylva
The species of beech tree known as the Bycha Zylva used to grow in abundance in Shanvér Woods, North of Shevezz City.
Pronunciation
The name Bycha Zylva is pure Shevezzi, and may be pronounced in the following Common Tongue way:bee-kah zeel-vah
Naming Clarification
As Common Tongue became even more widely used due to people travelling further for trade or diplomacy reasons, so Shevezzi terminology gave rise to confusion on occasion. The Bycha Zylva is not the same as, nor is it related to, the Silver Birch. In fact, Zylva is the Shevezzi word for "golden", making the full Common Tongue translation: Golden Beech.Description
Raw Wood
The wood itself was a golden-brown shade, which could appear more yellow if illuminated by sunlight - or in fact, moonlight. This was only shown through that which could be extracted from the forest itself, given the density of the canopy. This was the inspiration for the name bestowed upon it by the Shevezzi botanists, not its leaves as one might presume. While in the forest, these colours were pale, but it was when worked and polished that the hue really shone through. Due to restrictions on the felling of trees, Bycha Sylva wood was in short supply and therefore only affordable by the wealthy.Trunk and Bark
A fully-grown Golden Beech could have a trunk the width of several people, and there was no known maximum height it could reach. Within Shanvér Woods, observers noted increases in height most years. This was due to a "Light Race" with other competing species. Measuring techniques could not keep up with the rate of growth at the time, with one document on the species simply asking:Why do we need to recorder a maximum height? It achieves nothing for us, especially when it appears the trees are reaching for the suns.*Its bark was usually thin, but tough, meaning most wood-hammering birds could not extract bugs from its trunk. The branches offered less resistence, however, so ornithologists were encouraged to look "roof-ward" when scouring for specific species of bird.(Fragment from 'Of Leaves and Bark' by Q. Kannikan)
Leaves
The Golden Beech featured large, dark green, feather-shaped leaves, which were almost double the area of those from the common Beech tree. Moreover, as though mimicking the ground beneath, the leaves could be seen in many different shades of green. In the rare place where the sun or moon could break the canopy, a wood wanderer could be dappled in many shades, which was occasionally used by hunters as a form of camouflage, though usually just admired for its beauty.Semi-Deciduous
The Bycha Zylva is described as "semi-deciduous", as it never fully lost its leaves, even in Winter. With less light during the colder months, the leaves thinned out at the top of the canopy, but yellower leaves grew lower down, as though the tree itself was focusing its energy where it could. This meant that, instead of drawing more light into Shanvér Woods during Winter, the "roof" was, instead, lower, creating a greater feeling of oppression where one might expect relief.Status: Almost Extinct
Bycha Zylva cuttings and seedlings were recovered as part of the same Reclamation Project which failed to preserve Vérian Wild Ginger.In-depth: 553AFD
Firstly in a carefully setup laboratory, then an undisclosed garden location in the Undercity, the Bycha Zylva still survives. Even hundreds of years later, a viable natural environment has not been found for its self-propagation, as the Shan da San never fully recovered from the First Destruction. However, utilising Crystal Lamps, which emit the sun's natural energy, smaller and hardier variations of the Golden Beech have been successfully kept in the lower levels of Shevezz City to purify the air and improve the quality of life for citizens and workers. No modern Bycha Zylva is permitted to be cut for decorative reasons and, should a natural habitat be found, those trees not embedded into the stonework will be carefully extracted and moved to create a new forest.Footnotes
Chronicler's Note:↑
It was, and still is, a subject of contention as to whether the Orb of Savàni has one or two suns. While the largest one is most obvious, a lesser one has purportedly been spotted near the larger sun's edges, but efforts to create devices to safely observe such a force of light have often resulted in melted apparatus. This reference could also mean "Sun and Moon", as ancient ruins and cave carvings refer to the "day sun" and the "night sun".
Summary
Light Race
n. bot. where two or more plants, commonly trees, require equal levels of sunlight and continue to grow taller to reach it. Woods where a 'light race' occurs experience a higher canopy, but not necessarily more light.
Shevezzi Botany Guide, Vol 1.
Conservation Status
It is being preserved as part of the long-term Reclamation Projects Undercity botanic system and will remain so until a viable, alternative location for its survival is found.
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