Glowflax

The flowering plant Aenhedis, commonly known as "Glowflax" was created by the wizard and botanist Mesym Aenhed, of House Eshill. Aenhed's had originally designed to create a variety of flax that was suscpetible to magic, in the hopes that the lineseed oil produced from it could be used to treat various wooden objects like staves, bows, furniture, or building elements and make them a stronger catalysts for enchantment. The attempt failed, as the lineseed produced from Aenhedis is no more susceptible to magical influence than the oil produced from the common flax. However, the Aenhedis, or "Glowflax", plant turned out to have uses beyond the original design. The fibers of the Aenhedis are slightly stronger than those of the common Flax, and the linen fabric produced from the fibers, also known as "Mageweave", is supple, durable and a powerful catalyst for enchantment. Mageweave robes and garnments have therefore become popular with spellcasters, nobles and others who have the means to procure the desirable product. The fibers can also be used to create enchanted bowstrings.
Aenhedis was produced by magically crossbreeding the common Flax with a rare variety of Clematis known as Azure Dawn. Azure Dawn will only grow in the hot and humid Chiyani swamps. The vines of the Azure Dawn produce a deep azure flowers that are bioluminescent and are known for it's alchemical capabilities in a wide variety of potions. By crossbreeding the common Flax and Azure Dawn with the help of magic, a crossbreed has been produced that appears to take on the traits of both parents. Aenhedis has become a very useful plant, but, because it cannot reproduce naturally and takes a very long time to grow, it can only be cultivated artificially in greenhouses. House Eshill has carefully guarded the cultivation of Aenhedis, only allowing Beaussaint to cultivate the crop in exchange for the many glass panels needed for the greenhouses necessary to grow the crop.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Glowflax is a slender plant that grows to around 1.4m tall, with slender green leaves shaped like the tip of a lance. Whereas the flowers of the common flax can have flowers in a variety of colours, the flowers of glowflax will always be of a deep azure colour and the five petals have taken of the bioluminescent qualities of the clematis parent, giving off a faint blue glow in darkness. After flowering, the glowflax produces a dry capsule with several small, brown seeds in it, of similar size to an apple pip.

Genetics and Reproduction

Unlike most magically produced crossbreeds, glowflax is not sterile and can reproduce by planting the seeds. However, pollination has to be achieved manually as insects appear to be uninterested in the "unnatural" flowers. After artificial pollination, using a small brush, each flower will produce a capsule filled with several seeds. The dried seeds, when planted, can grow into new plants, but only about 25% of the planted seeds typically germinates.

Growth Rate & Stages

Glowflax takes a long time to grow. Seeds will sprout after approximately a month, and will produce flowers after about 150 days. It will take another 30 days for the seed capsules to develop and 20 more for the plants to be harvested for the fibres. If the plants are grown for the seed it will take another 60 days for the seeds to mature and dry. At this point the plants will slowly start to dry out and turn brown.

Ecology and Habitats

Because the growth cycle of Glowflax takes so much longer than that of common Flax, any experiments to cultivate the plants out in the open has failed since the plants are not adapted to seasonal changes. Glowflax can therefore only be grown in greenhouses, where the conditions can be monitored and controlled.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Other than regular water and a warm, humid climate, the plant requires relatively little care throughout the growth cycle (other than the artificial pollination to ensure enough seeds are produced).

Biological Cycle

Glowflax will go through a single cycle that is unaffected by seasonal changes as it is exclusively grown in greenhouses. After germinating, the plant will grow to its maximum height of around 1.4m, after which it will produce flowers. The flower petals wilt and shed as the flowers develop into seed capsules. The plant will then slowly start to dry out and turn brown as the seeds mature, after which the plant dies.

Conservation Status

Glowflax does not occur naturally, but it is cultivated in Athis Val and Beaussaint.