Uku Vine

Uku vines grow in abundance on the Saredian Isles. Their long vines and broad leaves tumble down the sides of the floating islands, blanketing them in green. Their fruit is round, bright yellow, and has red speckles. It is delicious, if you can reach it. Uku fruit is known to be the favorite food of the amphiptere.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Uku vines root in the shade near the edge of a floating island. They send their tendrils towards sunlight, until they reach the edge of the island and tumble downwards. Tiny adhesive pads on their tendrils allow them to securely grip the cliffside.

This position enables them access to full sunlight with little competition. It also puts them in reach of birds and amphipteres, which are vital to their reproduction.

Uku vines crowd on the north, west, and east edges of the islands, where the suns are strongest. Left barren, the shaded southern edge of the island is the perfect environment for moss and fungi.

Genetics and Reproduction

Uku vines are flowering plants. They begin to bloom a couple months into the dry season, and produce fruit continuously until temperatures begin to drop approaching the wet season. Their fruits are mainly eaten by amphipteres, but birds and insects also enjoy them. These animals collect pollen on their bodies as they forage and distribute it to other uku plants.

The seed is contained in a hard pit at the center of the fruit. The pit protects the seed and enables it to pass through the digestive tract of an amphiptere without being harmed. Amphiptere dung deposits the seeds on top of the islands, where they can sprout and grow new vines. Seeds that end up on the ground may also sprout, but struggle to compete against other plants for sunlight.

Uku Fruit by Aster Blackwell

Cultivation

Uku fruit is popular to more than just the wildlife. Saredian lilthians have cultivated domestic variants of uku fruit for centuries. Vines are grown on special three-sided, roofed trellises called "vine towers". Since uku vines prefer to grow downwards, they must be planted in a raised position. The roof of a vine tower holds the pots for the uku seeds. A slotted canopy shades the sprouts from intense sun while still allowing rain to water them. The vines grow across the roof and down the sides, gripping the trellis's wooden frame.

Towers are strategically positioned relative to each other to maximize sun exposure. The south side of the ladder has a ladder to allow access to the pots on the top. Portable ladders are used to harvest the fruit. They can also be harvested by climbing on the inside of the tower and pulling them through the trellis, or by knocking them into the waiting sack of another worker on the other side.

The fruit is a staple of Saredian culture and diet. It is eaten raw, dried, grilled, as juice, salted, and as a side dish to any number of other foods. Even the pits are used to flavor bitter uku, a popular liquor in Saredia and surrounding areas. The pits can also be ground up and used as compost.

Average Weight

One ripe fruit can be 4 to 5 ounces

Average Length

Vines can be over 15 feet long; fruits have a 4 to 5 inch diameter when fully ripe

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Emerald green vines and leaves; white flowers; yellow fruit with red speckles

Geographic Distribution

• Saredian Isles

Symbolism

Uku fruit, much like the amphipteres that eat them, is synonymous with Saredia and the concept of paradise and prosperity. The shape of the leaves and the iconic yellow and red color of the fruit are mimicked in the flags and crests of countries and organizations near Saredia. Outside of the region, their rarity associates them with wealth and exoticism.