Erissa's
Tears is the commonly used name for the what the
elves know as the "Ynia". It is a tiny light purple flower that is usually
the first to appear at the end of winter, often emerging as the snow is
receding.
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Image description. The
tiny Ynia flower, also called "Erissa's Tear".
Picture drawn by
Quellion. |
Appearance. This tiny
flower stands about three nailsbreadths
high. The heart shaped dark green leaves are a nailsbreadth in width circling
the dark green stem close to the ground. There are usually three leaves circling
the thin stem. The small flower consisting of four small circular petals each
less than a
nailsbreadth across that sit
flat on top its straight stem. Colour of this tiny flower can range from a light
purple similar to allia to a deep dark purple, but lighter shades are more
predominant. In the center with the stamen is a white spot. The leaves and stem
of the Yneia are covered with a type of wax unique to this plant which will
harden during the plants growth period. This wax coating which give the leaves
their bright sheen is believed to protect the plant from various grubs and
midges.
Territory.
This flower can be found all over the continent
of Sarvonia, whether it is along the shores of the sea or high in a mountain
pass. The flower needs to be in full sunlight so it is mostly found in open
areas like meadows, fields or southern slopes of mountains, e.g. at the
Nirmenith Mountains in southern
Santharia. Although more commonly found in the southern part of
Sarvonia, the Yneia has been known to grow
briefly during the summer in some of the more northern regions.
Usages.
There are no known uses for this flower. Although, many a maiden have been known
to braid this tiny flower into their hair before attending one of the spring
fairs.
Reproduction.
The Yneia is often the first green thing to be seen in the snow across the
continent of Sarvonia often taken as the
first sign of spring. Although it’s stem and dark green leaves will begin to
grow during the later parts of the month of
Molten Ice, the plant will not
begin to bud and bloom until
Awakening Earth. With a very few exceptions, the yneia blooms from the
beginning of Awakening Earth
until late Changing Winds. The
plant seems to thrive in the moist environment that melting snows create and
soon withers without the presence of wet ground. A notoriously hard to grow
plant, all efforts to cultivate the Yneia in tamed gardens have failed since
although it needs moist wet ground to grow and thrive, it can be easily
overwatered. Attempts by Brownies to grow
this plant have recently been more successful through means of indirect
watering such as through use of chunks of ice
or planting thick absorbent cloth around the plant and then
watering the cloth instead of the ground to
allow moisture to slowly steep through the ground.
In environments where a constant indirect source of water is provided, such as
in places where snow melts more slowly such as higher elevations and around the
outer edges of marshes, the Yneia will continue to bloom until the month of
Rising Sun.
Throughout its growth period, the protective wax which covers the plant will
begin to harden until in at the beginning of the month of
Changing Winds both the stem and
leaves of the plant are unbendable. When the wax is hardened if the plant has
been successfully pollinated, the stamen harden as well as it turns a dark brown
color signifying the presence of seeds inside the protective stamen. Meanwhile,
the roots of the plant will wither and die leaving the stem unanchored to the
ground. Released from the ground, the plant will be blown away with the
slightest breath of wind. The leaves and stems
now hard spin in high winds allowing the planta kind of flight as long as the
wind blows. The sight of the blooms spinning
through the air is a delight to children who will often try to mimic the actions
of the wind by rubbing the stem in their hands until the leaves spin and then
letting the flower go. Born by the wind, the
Yneia will come to rest in some unusual places, but some of the plants thus
carried will land in places suitable for growth. Upon landing the brown stamen
will burst asunder hopefully further scattering its seeds unto fertile soil
where the seeds will begin the slow process of developing roots until early
spring when the plant will once again bloom for its brief time. This same action
of scattering seeds to due impact is also often accomplished by children who use
the Yneia as their playthings.
Many small insects, butterflies, and moths are responsible for the pollination
of this plant, the type of species depending on the location. From the
blue myrmex, to
dalór, to the flitter twitch butterfly,
Erissa’s Tears do not lack for insects to pollinate them to assure they bloom
again in the spring.
Myth/Lore.
Most of the inhabitants on the Sarvonian continent have heard about or know of
the selfish and cold-hearted girl who became the
Snow Maiden. The stories
may differ slightly and the name may be Arysa, Erris or similar, but all end the
same way. It is believed, since these tiny flowers come so close to winter's
end, they are the tears shed by Erissa when winter is giving way to the warmth
of spring. Some say they are tears of sorrow for what she has lost and
repentance. Others claim they are tears of rage that once again she has lost
dominance to the warmth of the world.
