Wipeleaves

The most popular plant around

Written by JRTRPG

"Just hang on, I'm sure there's some wipeleaves up ahead. They're everywhere around here."

Wipeleaves are a very common plant with one abundant use: "bathroom" hygiene. The leaves of a Wipeleaf plant have astringent and emollient properties, which help keep "bathroom" hygiene comfortable.
Additionally, the leaves are often used to wash ones' self of dirt and grime, or to clean a surface.
The stalk of a Wipeleaf plant is heavy in mucilage. Common uses for this are creating glues (when mixed with water) and as a thickener for a variety of food recipes.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Wipeleaves are flowering plants with a tan stalk that can grow up to 5 meters tall. At the base of the plant is a huge outcropping of large soft white leaves. The leaves continue up the stalk in lessening distribution for about 3 meters. The last meter of the plant is characterized by a large "corncob-like" dense flowering. The flowers of a Wipeleaf plant are yellow and bio-luminescent; standing 5 meters tall, this makes them stand out when traveling at night. The light of the flowers is fairly weak, but on a pitch black night they do provide a few meters of dim luminescence.

Genetics and Reproduction

The dense flowering of a Wipeleaf plant produces hundreds of seeds in a year. The seeds are very resilient, and are dispersed through rain, wind, or within the droppings of small flying animals that eat the flowers. Additionally, the seeds are slightly clingy and will stick to the feet of creatures.

Growth Rate & Stages

A Wipeleaf seed will grow to a small outcropping of leaves within a month. In a year, the stalk will grow to about 3 meters in length. In two years a Wipeleaf plant is fully grown. Wipeleaf plants can live for up to 5 years.

Ecology and Habitats

Wipeleaf plants are very resilient and can grow anywhere with some water and sunlight. They do fine in shaded areas and wetlands. Wipeleaf plants can be found throughout the wilderness, but they are most abundant along traveling routes: the sticky nature of their seeds leads to travelers who use their leaves dispersing the seeds as they continue on their way.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Wipeleaves need very little water and sunlight to survive. They can thrive in densely forested areas and wetlands.

Biological Cycle

Wipeleaf plants are active throughout cold temperatures, only going into a dormancy phase if reaching -20 Fahrenheit for extended periods of time. The same chemical reactions that produce bio-luminescence will change and produce heat in temperatures of 40 Fahrenheit or below. When a Wipeleaf plant is producing its own heat, the entire stalk and flowering glow red, and the leaves will not freeze.

Scientific Name

Mutated Verbascum Thapsus

Conservation Status

Wipeleaves are extraordinarily abundant, yet do not invasively overtake areas. No one really knows where the mutated strain originated, but everyone is very appreciative of the convenience.