Snowcowl

Also known as Icewort or Old Man's Friend, Snowcowl is a small herb that has become popularly used among Linnadeans travelling the northern regions. It is native to Voralar's arctic regions, mostly found in woodland and scrub.
It is not to be taken as a substitute for warm clothing, though it will make a person feel warmer; it is a vasodilator which increases blood flow to the skin, making the cold less felt but increasing the rate of core heat loss. This can make careless use lead to death by hypothermia.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Individual Snowcowl plants usually grow to less than 20 cm tall, with a thin, woody stem. It has an extensive network of green branches, each with 10-20 roughly hexagonal leaves. The root system is shallow and wide, with a multi-lobed central tuber, anchoring it securely even in shallow soil layers.

Genetics and Reproduction

Snowcowl reproduces asexually, reproducing when individual root tips generate a new tuber and split from the mother plant. This generally occurs when the tip of the root reaches at least 40-50 cm from the central tuber, and encounters soil with sufficient nutrients to support it.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

It contains a natural vasodilator that helps keep extremities warm in cold weather - however, care must be taken, as excess dosage (or use when not dressed for the weather) increases blood flow to the skin and can cause hypothermia.
Traditionally, a leafy sprig is simply broken off the plant and chewed for relief in cold weather. It has a woody flavour, with hints of rosemary and a slightly bitter aftertaste that many find unpleasant. Since the late 100s, it has been available in a more concentrated capsule form.
In either capsule or chewed form, its vasodilatory properties have led folk medics to prescribe it for hundreds of years as a cure for marital woes. It is effective in this, though can lead to painful conditions in excessive doses.
A tea brewed from the tubers has mild analgesic properties, particularly effective for a sore throat.

Conservation Status

LC - Least concern

Average Height

Snowcowl typically grows to 25-30 cm tall