FLORA - Rarity, effects, and game balancing

    Ash Yam is a tough and tuberous root. The root itself has a red-and-brown color, tipped with several dark-green leaves. Remarkable are the three rather big brown leaves sticking out on top of the root. Ash Yam grows commonly in the Ascadian Isles and is a favoured vegetable. Bad tongues claim that "Ash Yams have the strongest smell near Ralyn Othravel in Ghostgate". Whether that smell comes from Ralyn himself or from equipment he carries, I could – understandably – not research. Ash Yams can fortify strength and intelligence, grant a resistence to disease and can be used in potions to detect keys.

    The Bittergreen Plant is a vegetable growing in the Red Mountain Region. The vines have red flowers when in bloom. The Bittergreen is poisonous when eaten raw, but safe to eat and nourishing when it is boiled. Due to its toxic effect when raw, it is often used as poison, like in a potion used for "Hanin's Wake". For safety reasons and to prevent inexperienced scholars from misuse, I will not recount the whole recipe of the potent poison.

  When properly boiled, Bittergreen fits nicely with crab meat and scuttle, as a Redoran Retainer assured me. Minced Bittergreen can be used in pastes, and is sometimes served in conjunction with crushed red bulbs of dell'arco spae, and driblets of ciciliani oil (both of these ingredients are unknown to me).  

Proper use of Bittergreen Petals can result in restored intelligence and invisibility. Damaging effects are a drain of endurance and magicka. Rumours indicate that Bittergreen Petals played a role in the sudden death of Balyn Omavel of Balmora.

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    Black Anther is a pretty, long stemmed plant with multiple leaves. The tips of the petals are violet while the middle part of them shines in a light yellow. It grows mostly along Azura's Coast. Beneficial alchemical effects are resist fire and light, while malicious effects are a drain of agility and endurance.

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    Black Lichen is a primitive plant that grows in the harsh environment of the Ashlands, Red Mountain, Molag Amur and Azura's Coast Regions. Its black-and-green leaves spotted with yellow form a bowl containing another set of leaves in similar but smaller shape. Black Lichen is known for draining speed and strength, while crafty alchemists can create potions of resist frost and cure poison.

It's sibling plants are Green and Red Lichen. 

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While rarely found outside, it is commonly found inside caves.

    Bungler's Bane is a mottled brown-and-orange shelf fungus collected from the trunks of trees in the Bitter Coast region. It is shaped like the letter “B”. Sometimes, the mushroom can be found on wet rock, too. Bungler's Bane must be handled very carefully, since it can drain speed, endurance and strength. Its one beneficial effect is dispel. Ajira, a Mages Guild apprentice I met in Balmora told me that Bungler's Bane mixed with crushed pearls creates a good dispel potion, though its taste is awful. I wouldn't advise to mix moonsugar with that potion - and not only because it is illegal.

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    Chokeweed is a tough shrub growing in the rocky highlands of the West Gash. Its slender trunk has a black-and-white colour, while the fern-like leaves have a green coulour. The potions that are created using Chokeweed can drain luck and willpower, but are also able to restore fatigue and cure disease.

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    The comberry is a bush that produces a red berry which is bitter in taste. The bush can grow to man-size and carry many berries. The Comberry bush is best known as the basis of the native comberry brandy, called Greef, a rough but potent alcoholic beverage of Morrowind. Comberry is grown in the Ascadian Isles. The native comberry brandy is called Greef, while the wine is called Shein. Another favourite usage for Comberries is comberry cake. When Comberries are used in potions, the following effects can be achieved: drain fatigue, restore magicka, fire shield and reflect, which makes the berry very versatile in its use.

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    Corkbulb trees are grown for their tough, fibrous roots. Its form, though bigger, is similar to the Ash Yam, but having big lush green leaves. On Vvardenfell corkbulb root is used in place of wood, since trees won't grow in this harsh environment. Corkbulb grows best in the Ascadian Isles. It is also used by fletchers to make basic arrows and as material for the fabrication of papyrus. Used in alchemy, Corkbulb Roots can cure paralization, fortify luck, restore health and create a lightning shield.

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    Draggle-Tail has a dark-green and knotty stem and is an interesting, though primitive plant. Depending on the blooming stage of the plant, two different ingredients can be harvested:

  The coda flower is the fruiting body, which can be easily recognized by its blue cup-shaped blossom with yellow inflorescence. Though the Coda Flower can grant levitation, it is also known to create malicious effects like drain personality, intelligence and health.  

The immature state of the fruiting body of the Draggle-Tail plant of the Bitter Coast is called the Ampoule Pod. It can grant water walking and detect animal, but can also paralize and drain willpower. 

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    The best description I found on Fire Fern can be found in Hardin's book "Special Flora of Tamriel". Lacking the eloquence of this herbalist, I stand in awe and quote from his words:

  "Fire Fern, a perennial herb, is native to the province of Morrowind. The flowers are inconspicuous and often hidden. The glossy, evergreen foliage and blossoms are resistant to conditions of high heat and bright light. A petal from this plant placed under the adventurer's tongue will provide protection from the heat and fire of the lava pits and thermal streams around Dagoth-Ur."   Fire Fern grows mostly in the Red Mountain Region, in Molag Mar and on Azura's Coast.  

Aside from the already mentioned fire resistance, proper use of Fire Petals can create spell absorption, while failed potions often have a paralyzing and health draining effect. 

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    Gold Kanet is a flowering plant commonly found in the Ascadian Isles and on Azura's Coast. The plant has yellow flowers and very dark green leaves with sharp spines. A variation of the Gold Kanet plant is "Roland's Tear" which is said to have wondrous powers when combined with other ingredients. Gold Kanet has but one beneficial effect: restore strength. Its other abilities are draining persons of health and luck and creating heavy burden.

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    Green Lichen is very similar in shape and form to its siblings, the Black and Red Lichen. It is also a rather primitive plant with modest magickal properties. It's growing mostly in the Ascadian Isles and Azura's Coast, but can also be found in caves. Like Bittergreen Petals, it was used in the Hanin's Wake poison. It can grant fortify personality and cure diseases, but also drains health and strength.

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While rarely found outside, it is commonly found inside caves.

    Hackle-Lo is a common root. Its brown body is covered on top with hanging thin brown leaves which look like hair. On top of these grow the usable and well known Hackle-Lo leaves used in Dunmeri kitchen. Hackle-lo leaf is a tasty edible succulent leaf of the Grazelands, prized both for its taste and its restorative powers. It is a year-round vegetable and can be eaten cooked or raw. As said, Hackle-Lo leaves can restore fatigue and luck, grant water breathing but is also able to paralyze.

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I think it's also found in Azura's coast, although I'm not sure.

    Heather is a low evergreen shrub of the Ascadian Isles, known for its small, pinkish-purple flowers with modest magical properties. It has needles like the trees in Skyrim and High Rock, but it grows near the ground and has pink flowers.

Aforementioned apprentice Ajira of Balmora told me that she thinks Heather comes from Skyrim because the leaves look like the spiny leaves of the local trees in this province. Her commentary "The flowers are also pink like the Nord people." was, though not really scientifical, worth mentioning in this report. The Khajiiti mage told me that when Heather is mixed with ruby, it makes a formidable potion of feather. With a scrap of Scamp skin, she was able to create a potion to restore personality. Additional, though not very desirable effects are drain speed and personality. 

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    Hypha facia is a light brown shelf fungus collected from the trunks of trees in the Bitter Coast Region. Hypha Facia looks much like Bungler's Bane and grows like a shelf on trees and wet rocks. Hypha Facia looks just like Bungler's Bane. Once more I have consulted with Ajira, who was very helpful and deserves being mentioned in this report. Hypha Facia seemed to confuse Ajira easily, but she stated that Bungler's Bane smells more dry and dusty than Hypha Facia which has little smell, but tastes very moist. The shelf-fungus is edible and tastes well. Due to the negative effects like drain luck, agility and fatigue, I advise not to eat too much of it. Combined with, for example, nix-hound meat, a potion of detect enchantment can be brewed.

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    The man-sized Kreshweed is a coarse green grass which is growing in the Grazelands and on Azura's Coast. The Kreshweed Fiber gained from the plant can be used to drain magicka and speed as well as to restore luck and fortify personality.

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   Luminous Russula, a mushroom growing in the Bitter Coast Region can be recognized by its squat form and mottled brown-and-green colour. The toadstool mushroom has a distinctive smell and can be poisonous, for example if it is mixed with Violet Coprinus. Its other effects are water breathing and drain fatigue.

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    The Marshmerrow plant is a tall stalk with triple radiating leaves at intervals along the stalk. The sweet pulp of marshmerrow reeds is a delectable foodstuff. Marshmerrow is an important crop of the farms and plantations of the Ascadian Isles, but it also grows wild in the Grazelands and on Azura's Coast. The farming of Marshmerrows in the Vos region has often been disrupted by Ashlander raids.

  Among Marshmerrows' most important properties are restore health and detect enchantment, while the plant can also drain willpower and fatigue.   The East Empire Company is trading with Marshmerrow and Saltrice and enjoys favourable tariffs and regulations for import and export of these goods.  

The Dissident Priests seem to employ martial arts techniques named after the Marshmerrow and Saltrice, imitating fighting styles of Elsweyr. 

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    Muckspunge are towering tubular plants found in the West Gash and on Azura's Coast. Muck is the damp, fibrous slime from crushed muckspunge plants. Muck is donated by faithful Dunmer at the Shrine of Humility in the Fields of Kummu west of Suran. It is told that Vivec took the part of a deceased guar and served as beast of burden until the crop was harvested. Unless properly prepared in the native manner, Muck is mildly toxic which results in a drain of health and personality. Used correctly, muck can be used to create detect key potions and cure disease.

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    Red Lichen is the last of the three Lichen plants, hardy and primitive, that grows in the harsh conditions of Red Mountain, Molag Amur, and the Ashlands. Shape and form is similar to Black and Green Lichen. This variant can drain speed and magicka as well as it can be used in light and cure disease potions. 

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    Roobrush is a tough, low, wiry shrub growing in arid, poor, ashy soils of the West Gash. Alchemists use it to fortify agility and cure poison, but it can also drain willpower and health.

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    Saltrice is another of the tasty and nutritious foodstuffs with modest magical properties raised as export crops by Morrowind's farmers and plantation owners. Most saltrice seen in the Empire comes from southeastern Morrowind, but there are also some new and prospering farms and plantations in the Ascadian Isles. Saltrice also grows wild in the Grazelands and on Azura's Coast. Saltrice plantations rely completely on slave labor for their economic viability, House Dres for example, is well known for their dependence on cheap slaves. An example for the newer agricultural enterprises on Vvardenfell would be the extensive Dren Plantation north of Vivec.

  Mazte, a cheap and invigorating beverage is brewed from fermented Saltrice. Another purpose of Saltrice is to bake bread from Saltrice flour. The Saltrice plants are also common in the Province Elsweyr, where it is cultivated in combination with Sugarcane.   The unique properties of Saltrice are restore fatigue and health as well as fortify magicka. It can also drain fatigue, though.  

The Redoran Retainer I mentioned earlier told me that mixed rat and hound meat baked with Saltrice, Scuttle and Kwama eggs makes a fine and nourishing dish. 

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    Scathecraw Plants are tough reddish grasses growing in the thermal regions of the Ashlands, Molag Amur and Red Mountain. They have adjusted well to the harsh environment. The soft inner flesh of the Scathecraw can be used to drain strength and health as well as to cure poison and restore willpower.

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    Slough Fern is a remarkable plant, as it features a Spore Pod among its leaves. The Spore Pod, when used as an ingredient drains strength and fatigue and threatens to paralyze the uninformed user, but can also be used to brew detect key potions.

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    Stoneflowers are dark blue and the their stems bend towards the ground when they are in bloom. The leaves look like they are folded along the stems. Stoneflower petals are collected from this small blue flower of the Ascadian Isles and Azura's Coast. Stoneflowers can be used to mask the scent of a being from wolves and hounds.

Drain luck is its only malicious effect. Positive properties are restore strength and fortify magicka and personality. 

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    The thorny dark-red Trama Shrub grows in the bitter, ashy soils of the Ashlands, Molag Amur, and Red Mountain. A calming tea with modest magical properties is brewed from its thick, bitter-tasting root. Potions made of this ingredient can restore willpower and grant levitation. It also drains magicka and speed.

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    Violet Coprinus is a mushroom with a tall and slender stem with a distinctive violet-blue colour. Coprinus comes from long-stemmed toadstools which are glowing blue at night. The mushroom is most common in the Bittercoast Region. Mixed with Luminous Russola, which also grows in the Bittercoast Region, Violet Corpinus can be a potent poison. The alchemical effects that can be created are water walking, drain of fatigue and - as said before - poison. Since Violet Coprinus and Luminous Russola are very common, I advise caution when working with them.

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    Wickwheat is a wild Ashland grain that grows in the Grazelands. It is easiliy recognizable with its lush green leaves and the yellow spike. Today's Ashlander camps are built from the non-edible parts of the Wickwheat plant. Health restoration and fortify willpower are its positive effects, wrong use can result in paralyzation and dumbness (damage intelligence).

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    Willow anther is the powdery residue from pollen-bearing parts of the willow flower that grows in the Ascadian Isles and on Azura's Coast. Willow flowers have big red blossoms with five petals and light green leaves. Used in potions, Willow Anther grants frost shield and cure disease and paralyzation, but can also drain personality.

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