Banefire
Banefire is a deciduous tree that begins life as an unremarkable woody bush; extreme heat causes them to restructure and grow taller.
In bush form, they are no more than three to four feet in height and just as wide, with spearhead-shaped green leaves along thin dark brown lacquered stems and plentiful pearly-white, bell-shaped flowers in drooping clusters. In this stage they are sometimes called "lady's jewelbox".
A particularly harsh Season of Ripening or other heatwave, or outright wildfire or other burning, and the entire plant decays back to the hardy stump, pooling its resources and growing rapidly (sometimes in a day or less) into a narrow deciduous tree of twelve to sixteen feet. In this form they have one to five tapering trunks with smooth dark red bark that develops lighter-colored vertical ridges as it ages; upper branches take on a narrow fan habit and sprout stiff spearhead-shaped leaves that turn orange-gold in the later seasons. Its flowers become far smaller -- barely noticeable short pale green bells -- and their fruit bursts into wads of orange silky seedheads. Its overall flame-like appearance in this stage, particularly in Season of Closing, has led to the matching nickname of "lady's wrath" or "lady's fan".
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Related to heavensash.
Genetics and Reproduction
As a bush it reproduces primarily through berries and scattered seeds. As a tree, its seedheads can either be blown away by the wind or taken by birds to line nests. It is slow to reproduce, though the plant itself is fairly hardy.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Almost all parts of the plant in its tree stage has psychoactive properties, but especially the berries and bolls, followed by the leaves. These are typically burnt and the smoke inhaled as a recreational drug; this is sometimes known as 'tasting fire' or a 'firelick'. Kivan tribes engaged in binding ceremonies of koza and riders will include it in their binddrought recipes (especially if they do not have access to moutervain) and/or have both inhale the smoke in order to share a vision that emphasizes the feeling of sharing a hunt or kill.
The berries and to a lesser extent the leaves have a peppery, sweet, yet somewhat metallic taste if eaten raw.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Average Height
(Tree) 12-16ft
(Bush) 3-4ft
Geographic Distribution
Comments