|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:53 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:54 pm
Navigation:
o1|| Welcome
o2|| Navigation & Friends Links
o3|| Profile
o4|| Roco's Nest
o5|| Timeline
o6|| RP Archive & Travel Log
o7|| Education Log
o8|| Dragon Anatomy
o9|| Dragon Anatomy
10|| Common Draconic Injuries
11|| Plants of Pern
12|| Plants of Pern
13|| Reserved
14|| Reserved
15|| Credits
Friends:
Ghilani Zara
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:55 pm
Name: Florian
Age: 20 at profile creation. He is now 23.
Sex: Male
Craft: Healer Craft, with an emphasis on animals
Rank: Journeyman
Song: The Islander
Physical Description:
Florian is lanky, with rich golden skin and a thin face with high cheek bones. He has shoulder-length, straight, silky, chestnut hair and gray-green eyes. Not much too look at upon first blush, Florian does possess a striking pair of well shaped eyes, though he hides them rather irreverently behind a pair of outdated wire frame seeing lenses. It is important to note that he does not actually need those spectacles aside from working in the stillroom, but he prefers to wear them all the time. His walk is straight and purposeful, though he does tend to bunch his shoulders a bit due to his frequent habit of carrying heavy teaching hides in a wherhide satchel wherever he goes.
Personality:
When you are about as personable as a wall, it can be difficult for others to fully grasp one's personality. Still, Florian can be best described as being straightforward to a fault. He does not pull punches, and has few pulled from him in return, preferring to always know which side of the line he stands on by forcing an argument to differentiate the sides. He was never a favorite apprentice, nor will he likely change his course in life to make himself more presentable to dragonriders. His thoughts have always, and will always be, getting his patients up and able. However, once his job is done, he moves on both emotionally and mentally. Helping people and animals medically is not something he takes personally, it is just something he does. Knowledge is the only thing that drives this young Journeyman, and woe betide any who stand in the way of him and Truth.
History:
Raised in a small hold outside the limits of one of the major holds, Florian took to the tutelage of the local Healer like a fish takes to water. Often his parents would find him ferreted away in a corner reading old teaching scrolls as best he could in the dim light provided by glows, but never would he outright ask them to sponsor him to the Healer hall itself. Perhaps he thought he just wasn't worthy, or perhaps the thought of receiving real training never occurred to the boy, whatever the case was, the local Healer DID eventually bespeak his parents and without fanfare, Florian found himself shipped off to the Fort Hold Healer Hall for formal training.
A natural bookworm and a quick study, Florian quickly distanced himself from his classmates academically, but in terms of social adaptability, he was woefully unprepared. Almost immediately those of his age group sectioned themselves off into smaller friendly groups in a flurry of bizarre behavior that left Florian more then a little confused and disjointed. He made himself an outsider through ignorance, but his eventual behavior when approached was what finally made him a social outcast. Never one to expressly hide what he wanted to say, Florian made no bones about how bizarre he thought the rest of his classmates were for spending so much time worrying about each other rather then their studies, and in return, they ridiculed him and labeled him an eccentric.
Not to surprisingly, the Craftmasters found his attitude more then a little daunting at first, especially when it was combined with his formidable intellect, but over the course of a year those same masters found themselves warming to the boy. Florian is as honest as the Dragons that protect Pern, and given time and a little patience, the more charitable souls of the Healerhall figured he would come around and become a great healer. Naturally, they kept these opinions to themselves, and drilled Florian just as ruthlessly as they would any other apprentice.
Three years after coming to the Healerhall, a strange thing happened to Florian. First, his yearmates stopped teasing him as much as they had been. Maturity apparently struck those prospective Journeymen early, or they just grew tired of pranks that always worked and hurtful words that fell on deaf ears. Florian didn't particularly care what the case was, but he did accept a few tentative overtures of friendship when they were offered. Fourth year was always a difficult one for apprentices, since they were expected to act more like adults and keep up their good marks. Everyone also knew who the best apprentice was when it came to academics, and few were still so immature as to continue ridiculing the best study guide ever to take a breath. The second strange thing was the appearance of a dragonrider amidst the apprentices. The strange man was a Brown Rider, and he claimed to be both on Search and in need of advice from the Healerhall.
Since Healers were rarely Searched, (their office was too important, and when the Weyr needed a new dragonhealer, the Hall usually supplied them one anyway) few of the apprentices held out much hope on being chosen. They all went about their duties throughout the Dragonrider's four day stay, and most stayed away from the dragon himself out of respect. Florian, however, was fascinated by the man's brown dragon.
For three mornings he would rise early to go out and study the beast, imagining what his skeleton must look like, marveling at the way he drew breath and spread his wings. That the dragon had a name and a mind eluded him at first, until the brown's rider caught him one of those mornings.
The rider, a gruff oldster named H'shan, didn't have a whole lot of patience with kids, but his dragon Girenth had one of the finest Search noses in the Wing, and Girenth bespoke him to come out and chat with this particular boy. Girenth apparently thought there was something about the kid that needed inspecting, though the brown would not outright demand the boy be taken back to the Weyr to stand for a clutch. Curious by the unusual behavior, H'shan acquiesced and met with the kid unexpectedly during one of his illicit early morning dragon-study sessions.
Being a bright fellow, Florian did not try and lie his way out of 'trouble' and instead answered the dragonrider as honestly and forthrightly as he would any of his Craftmasters or peers. He was interested in dragons, very interested in fact, but not in the typical star eyed way of most teens. Impressed, H'shan introduced both himself and his brown, and was further surprised by the boy's reaction to Girenth's intelligence. Almost immediately, Florian treated Girenth like he would any human he was dealing with, whether as a patient or a visitor. H'shan may have been a gruff man, but he was never one to share in the feelings of superiority that other Dragonriders felt towards the average Pernese. He liked that quality in the boy's demeanor and how he did not disrespect Girenth by treating him as a pack beast or someone to be spoken of but not too. Girenth seconded his rider's feelings, commenting only that the boy would be good for the Weyr.
So Florian found himself Searched, though unbeknown to him it was in a rather nontraditional manner. H'shan openly Searched him, but later requested from the Healer Hall Master that the boy receive continued training from the Weyr's dragonhealer, and be allowed to return to the Hall to take any tests needed. The Master agreed, but was left wondering what was it about Florian that seemed to attract so much unusual attention.
Upon his arrival at the Weyr, Florian found himself both amazed and besieged. With dragons everywhere, he could learn all he'd ever want to know about them, but their riders and the Weyrfolk were a force he was not totally prepared for. For starters, the Dragonhealer was a GIANT old man who boomed when he laughed and told everyone he knew about his great new apprentice. Then there was the women of the Lower caverns... they cooed over his overly skinny self and his penchant for assisting them with cleaning dishes. Honest as he was, he made a great effort NOT to tell them why he always tried to be around during cleaning time, since he was quite certain the kind women would not be so kind when they found out he didn't trust THEIR cleaning skills.
Around that time a clutch of firelizard eggs came to the Weyr and became the duty of the Weyrhealers to tend and eventually distribute. Florian was understandably drawn to the event, and found himself immediately recruited in the egg-turning effort. When the small hatching took place, Florian Impressed his little brown Roco completely by accident when the rider who was supposed to get the egg didn't show and the egg ended up hatching super late when all of the other hatchlings were finished eating and happily resting with their new owners. To his credit, Florian just accepted the fact that he was now the caretaker of the little brown, neither crowing about the fact nor being overly apologetic. To him, everything happens for a reason, and Roco's appearance was just going to be another one of those 'strange things' that kept happening to him.
His mentor, the burly dragonhealer, was privately pleased by Florian's behavior, but at the same time a little worried about the boys future prospects as a healer. He was due to stand as a candidate at the next clutch, and given his overall steady nature and obvious skill with dragons and their lesser kin, the old man was worried Florian WOULD be chosen.
But he shouldn't have worried, when the time came, Florian was left standing not just once, but twice over the course of the year.
Eventually, when the time came for his Journeyman status to be tested, Florian found himself back at the Healerhall, though only for a short while. H'shan had promised to take him to a different Weyr to stand at one more clutch, but this time if he didn't Impress, Florian decided enough would be enough.
Pets: Brown Firelizard, Roco.
Other/Talents: None.
Will this character be a candidate? Yes but no. I actually don't want him to ever impress, but I'd like to write him in RP's as a candidate. <3 !
Picture: 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:55 pm
Roco's Nest Their Habitat Given Florian's recent nomadic lifestyle, the young journeyman has acquired little in the way of personal belongings. Roco has one particular pillow he is fond of, so Florian takes great pains to assure the little brown that the flat bag of wherry down feathers is packed. Other then that, Florian has little in the way of clothing and personal possessions. He buys what he needs when he needs it, and otherwise lives out of a leather satchel that also doubles as a carry-bag for teaching scrolls he has borrowed. Provisions are bought as needed, along with carrying bags for them. About the only thing constant in his life is his firelizard, that leather satchel, and a smaller belt bag that he keeps various first aid necessities in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:57 pm
Timeline Apprentice:
- 4 years Fort Hold Healerhall
- 'Searched' At Healerhall
- 1.5 years Fort Weyr
- 2 Failed Impressions at Fort Weyr
Journeyman:
- .5 years Ista Weyr
- Befriended Ghilani and Zara
- Failed Last Impression attempt at Ista Weyr
- 2 years Fort Hold Healerhall
- 4 years Fort Weyr, Southern Hold, and Igen Weyr <- Current
Master:
- 1 year Fort Hold Healerhall
- 2 years Fort Weyr
- Multiple Excursions to the Southern Continent
- Transfer to Ista Weyr
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:07 pm
RP Archive
Florian's Journal Logs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:12 pm
Education Log 
APPRENTICE YEARS [x] denotes journal link
1. Duties:
* Assist with upkeep of Infirmary. [x]
* Cleaning and care of instruments. [x]
* Carry food and water for injured dragons.[x]
* Fetch and carry for higher ranking DHL. [x]
* Harvest medicinal plants. [ x ]
* Assist in performing first aid on dragons/lizards. [x]
2. Learning Objectives:
* Basic care and feeding of dragons.
* Basic dragon first aid.
* Identification of harmful animals and plants.
* Memorize dragon/'lizard anatomy.
3. Final Testing:
* Oral examination covering dragon/'lizard anatomy and basics of dragon care and feeding.
* Demonstrate proficiency in dragon first aid.
SENIOR APPRENTICE YEARS [x] denotes journal link
1. Duties:
* Assist Junior Apprentices with learning duties. [x]
* Prepare medicines. [x]
* Perform first aid on dragons/lizards. [x]
* Assist in surgery. [x]
2. Learning Objectives:
* Beginning dragon ailments, symptoms, and treatments.
* Surgical prep and basic procedures.
* Dragon mating, clutching, special needs of pregnant dragons, care of eggs.
3. Final Testing:
* Oral examination covering selected dragon ailments, symptoms and treatments, dragon mating, clutching and care of pregnant golds and eggs.
* Demonstrate proficiency in dragon first aid, assisting in surgery, and preparing medicines.
JOURNEYMAN [x] denotes Journal link
1. Duties:
* Assist Apprentices and Senior Apprentices with learning duties. [x]
* Assist Weyrwomen in keeping dragon genealogy records. [x]
* Record treated cases and assist with archiving. [x]
* Perform surgery (supervised). [x]
* Supervise lower ranking DHL. [x]
2. Learning Objectives:
* Continue study of dragon ailments, symptoms, and treatments.
* Archiving techniques.
* Diagnosis.
* First aid for animals and humans.
3. Final Testing:
* Oral examination covering advanced areas of dragon ailments, symptoms and treatments, archiving techniques, and first aid for humans and animals.
* Demonstrate proficiency in surgery, diagnosis, and archiving tasks.
MASTER [x] denotes Journal link
1. Duties:
* Mentor Journeyman DHLs.
* Supervise surgeries.
* Teach classes.
* Assume responsibility for one aspect of Infirmary: archiving, medicines, DHLs, diagnosis, surgery.
2. Learning Objectives:
* Continue study of dragon ailments, symptoms, and treatments.
* Advanced diagnosis.
* Advanced surgical techniques.
* Proficiency in all administrative tasks.
3. Final Testing:
* Senior Dragonhealer is the only level higher than Master. The rank of Senior Dragonhealer is determined by the Weyrleaders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:14 pm
Dragon Anatomy
Skeleton:
Dragon bones are not easily broken unlike a human. The design buffers takeoffs and landings effectively, and animal meat (which on Pern contains Boron) sustains skeletal strength, much like humans require milk products (for the calcium). They have a stronger endoskeleton (outer skeleton) than us and so, despite their size and form, are comfortable upright. The skeleton itself is constructed of light flexible plates that are designed to glide over each over. A modified ball and socket joint in their hips prevents their knees from dislocating during the powerful thrusts needed for takeoff and during the absorption of impact on landing.
The ribcage of a Dragon is comprised of a single piece, unlike a human, and is surprisingly large. Despite being constructed from a single piece, ribcages rise and fall, and thus some muscles and ligaments must allow for this, probably a huge diaphragm. Dragons chests can double in size upon full inflation, presumably to deal with working under pressure and at altitude.
A Dragon wing is particularly complicated, comprised of many bones which allow it to extend, flex and furl. The easiest way to describe the skeleton of a Dragon wing is to consider the structure of a sail on a boat or a modified human arm. Two wingbones extend outward from the shoulder joint, running almost in series to each other, but separated by the 'elbow', the bones forming the 'lub'. These wingbones conclude in the finger joints, where the spar bone forms the outer edge of the wing. The mid-bone and inner-bone also extend outwards from the finger joint, sometimes known as a wingspar or pinion, jointed themselves several times, like the spar bone, to provide flexibility.
Musculature:
Dragons are heavily muscled, their back legs in particular are massive, enabling them to leap far off the ground on takeoff. In appearance the muscles glisten silver-grey in colour, with the grey becoming darker, and greener, where the ichor supply is richer.
Dragon forelegs are much shorter than their rear limbs, appearing more like modified arms than legs, and the shortness lends them an ungainly hop-skip movement when walking. Therefore, they have a tendency to relax in an upright, 'sitting' position. Firelizards limbs are more equal in length and musculature than Dragons, which means they spend less time in an upright position.
Dragons have pentadactyl (five-fingered) claws, jointed much like a human's hand to allow adequate purchase. On the other hand, Watch Whers only have two claws instead of the five, with a single pad on which to rest their weight on. Long, sharp talons are found on the front limbs, which are excellent for hunting. The rear limbs have softer nails, but these are still stronger than humans'. Dragon talons are similar in nature to canine claws, and even our own fingernails. They are made of keratin, and grow out from a talon bed, which is situated in the foot pad. Thus, the talon itself has no nerves associated with it, and therefore no feeling, until it reaches the point where it grows from the talon bed. There it is nourished with ichor and nerves. However, that's not to say they cannot feel by association through their talons, though it is more correct to say that they feel the connection through the talon to the talon bed.
Dragon Hide:
Dragonhide is not metallic in nature, neither is it constructed of 'scales'. It is extremely resilient to most abrasive injuries, and is smooth, soft to the touch and hairless. Healthy hide is glossy, with no hint of grey underlying the main colour and needs to be constantly cleaned and oiled, otherwise dry, patchy spots may develop, which may crack on trips between and cause great pain.
Dragonhide epidermis is known to be thick and extremely resilient to most abrasive injuries and provides, like human skin, a barrier to infection. However, absorption of topical substances is still possible. For example, Numbweed will numb the outer area in around three seconds, though it takes a little longer to penetrate the epidermis to the germative layer and thus dissipate the pain.
Female Dragons often experience a change in colour tone before they rise to mate. They may even appear to glow. The colour change differs in golds and greens. In greens it can occur up to a full day before she rises, golds on the other hand rarely show a colour change until they are ready to mate. Male Dragons do not generally experience a fluctuation in colour, although their hides may deepen in colour with age and become wisped with grey.
Internal Systems:
Although their body temperature (35°C) is slightly cooler than humans (37°C), Dragons are definitely warm 'blooded', this can be determined by their reaction to hot and cold temperatures. However, they do not have blood and it is not even red in colour. Instead they have ichor which is dark green in colour. Ichor, like blood, is also based on a metal, in this case the metal being copper instead of iron. Dragon flesh does therefore have a green tinge to it instead of pink normally associated with humans.
Ichor circulates around the Dragon in a continuous cycle, pumped by the rhythmic contraction/relaxation, or beat, of the heart muscles. The typical lub-dub of the hearts are due to first the atria (upper heart chambers) filling with ichor, and then the contraction of the atrium muscles filling the ventricles (lower heart chamber). This, however, is a further complication in a Dragon that has multiple hearts. Since Dragon carcasses are not readily available the exact number of the hearts is unknown. The reason for multiple hearts has never been discerned, but it is thought that this may be due to the effects of altitude and exertion during mating flights and Threadfall.
The ichor circulates within a network of flexible tubes known as ichor vessels, of which there are three types. Arteries are strong, muscular, elastic-walled vessels that carry ichor away from the hearts and towards the tissues. Veins are thin-walled and carry ichor back to the heart. Ichor is squeezed through the veins by the action of the surrounding muscle and is kept flowing towards the hearts by one-way valves. Capillaries are the smallest ichor vessels and bridge the gap from arteries to veins. The force, with which the hearts pumps the ichor through these vessels, and around the body, is known as the 'ichor pressure'.
Dragons can inflate their dorsally-placed lung sacs to approximately twice their normally inflated size. Presumably this is to aid respiration under pressure at altitude and additionally may have a role in sustaining a constant flame. Since Dragon rib cages do not have the separate bones that humans do, they rely solely on the diaphragm and not on that and the intercostal muscles. The diaphragm of a Dragon is a huge band of muscle that pulls the lungs down, similar to a human, and into the ribcage, or pushes the lungs up, allowing air to move into and out of the lungs respectively. Curiously, they also snore, despite reports from Riders that suggest otherwise. This tends to be particularly prevalent within Weyrling Dragons. This is thought to be due to the fat to muscle content, which eventually levels out as they begin to eat less, and exercise more.
Dragon's tongues are not forked, and they have little saliva: just barely enough to protect from infection, and assist in masticating food and Firestone. Too much saliva would result in complications to the later reactions in the second stomach upon chewing Firestone.
Dragon teeth are strong and therefore difficult to break, a fortunate occurrence since they appear to have only one set. Age may weaken them, and therefore older Dragons may break teeth when chewing bones or Firestone. They are sharp at the front, canines, for hunting, useful for ripping and rendering, and more molar like at the back of the mouth for chewing Firestone and meat.
Dragons have two stomachs, one is for food, and the digestion of such, the other is for Firestone, and the complex reaction that is necessary in order to generate flame. Early on Dragons learn to concentrate on their second stomach when chewing Firestone. Ingestion of Firestone, and passage into the second stomach, initialises a complex chemical reaction, catalyzed by an acid. Once the chemical reaction has been completed in this second stomach, then a number of flammable gases are produced, which, when belched forth, ignite on contact with air. An experienced Dragon can sustain a flame for well over a minute and flame range can be varied from around 6 to 2 metres. Dragons disgorge the ash when they go between.
A digestive tract for the second stomach does not exist, unlike for the first which passes to the tail. Therefore, the Firestone, which has been masticated and subsequently digested inside the second stomach to an odourous ash, is not excreted but disgorged. As Weyrlings, Dragons regurgitate in ashpits near the Weyrling barracks, but once between training is underway, Dragons will disgorge the contents of their second stomach between. They may also be asked by the Holder's to disgorge contents for use as fertiliser.
Golds do not ingest Firestone; the weyrwomen therefore use Flamethrowers in Threadfall, which have as much variation in range as a Dragon. However, since gold Firelizards ingest Firestone, flame and still bear live clutches, it is believed there is something in the genetic makeup of a green Dragon that makes her sterile, and not the Firestone. Considering the frequency at which greens rise, this is somewhat of a relief to any Weyr, but no weyrwoman would consider testing this theory.
Tails:
Dragons have forked tails, almost arrowhead in shape. Their sphincters are located towards the base of the tail, and excreta is stored up for several days here until they are able to go between and get rid of it. Weyrlings and infirm Dragons that cannot go between need to have their Rider muck out their couch or Weyr.
Dragon genitalia are concealed behind pouchlike flaps of hide under the junction of tail and body, and are only revealed during mating.
Wing Structure:
The wingspan of a Dragon is typically 1 and 2/3s their length and, because the wings function somewhat like sails, the terms used are quite similar. Whers have short stubby malformed wings, and are incapable of flight. Approximately half the length of the wing is supported by bones that are reminiscent of a human arm between the shoulder and finger joint, including an elbow.
Two wingbones extend outward from the shoulder joint, running almost in series to each other, but separated by the 'elbow', the bones forming the 'lub' portion of the wing. It is the inherent strength of the shoulder and upper arm muscles that provides the necessary power for a downstroke of the wing, with the elbow usually held in a slightly flexed position. The lower arm terminates in the finger joint, and a membrane that stretches from here to the shoulder is known at the leading edge, whilst the one that extends from the arm and finger joint to the leech is known as the trailing edge. One of the bones at the finger joint, the spar bone, forms the outer edge of the wing, running down to the outermost, or forestay, tip, of the wing. The mid-bone and inner-bone also extend outwards from the finger joint, jointed themselves several times, like the spar bone, and provide excellent flexibility.
The finger joint is constructed in a similar fashion to our hands, and includes the metacarpals (what are known to us as the hand bones), a vestigial (unused) 'thumb' and all the joints for the wing bones. The muscles responsible for extending (extensor) and flexing (flexor) the wings start just below the elbow, narrowing into long tendons as the reach the finger joint. Additionally, they extend along all the wingbones and are attached at each joint, allowing fine control of the wingtips.
Schematic Representation of a Dragon Wing
Schematic Representation of a Dragon Wing, Copyright H.Walter 1997.
There are three membranes that make up the wing: the primary mainsail, the secondary mainsail and the spar mainsail. The primary mainsail stretches from the dorsal spine and shoulder, stretching to the inner bone and forms that largest of the three membranes that comprises the wing. It is this membrane that supports the majority of the body weight. The secondary mainsail extends from the inner bone to the mid bone, whilst the third mainsail, the spar mainsail, runs from the mid bone to the spar bone. As well as providing support of the body's weight, these latter two mainsails provide manoeuvrability. The membranes can be manipulated by the tendons attached to the various joints, to provide movement in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The outermost tip of the spar mainsail is termed the 'finger sail' since it is able to function almost independently of all the other mainsails.
The wing membranes are nearly translucent in Dragons, although thicker over the bones and muscle attachment points. However, they are significantly stronger than they appear. Additional support of the primary mainsail is provided by a number of cartilages which extend from the arm and finger joint towards the trailing edge and referred to as 'batten ribs'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:18 pm
Dragon Anatomy
Dragons have known to have the share the same five senses that we do, those of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell, which are all present in different stages of development. In addition they have a sixth, and highly developed, sense, that of telepathy.
Dragons have no ears, their headknobs appearing to fulfill this function as they do react to noises that are not related to their sixth sense. Watch Whers also have headknobs that they use as audio receptors, however, their primary mode of communication is telepathic.
Dragons do not have eyelashes, their eyes being protected both by prominent eyeridges and by three sets of lids: an inner transparent pair, and two increasingly thicker sets of membranes, the outer set similar in tone to their hide colour. Dragon eyes protrude outwards from their eyesockets, and as such provide peripheral vision that extends additionally to what is above them, a useful tool in Threadfall. Dragons can, if the pairing between the Rider and Dragon has been sufficiently developed, use their Rider's eyes to see something if they are not present themselves. This bond, usually developed in Weyrlinghood can be strengthened by forcing the Rider to rely on Dragonsight, and likewise with Dragon to Rider.
Dragon eyes are multifaceted, and the whirling, that is generally associated with emotion intensity, is in fact an optical illusion caused by these facets. Eye colour reflects mood: green and blue signify contentment, yellow indicates fear, reddish orange signal anger, red expresses hunger, white denotes danger and purple suggests the mating urge and love. Additionally, Dragons, like whers, can see in the dark. Watchwhers, though, while having excellent sight even in total darkness, are photophobic, and have poor focal length. Dragons on the other hand have good focal length, being able to see objects on the ground from at least several Dragonlengths above ground, if not further.
Smell is poorly developed within Dragons. They cannot smell anything distasteful in the stench of Firestone, but can, however, smell well enough to detect 'strange' and unfamiliar scents. Sensitivity to touch seems to vary as it does in a human, with Dragon bellies having been noted as ticklish.
Dragon tongues are not forked and their teeth are strong. Their front teeth are extremely sharp, ideal for hunting, whilst their back teeth are more molar-like, perfect for chewing Firestone. Little is said about taste. However, taste buds probably do exist, but aren't that well developed, certainly not as much as a human, and detecting sweet from sour is almost certainly impossible. The ability to discern between food and Firestone to direct it to the correct stomach (see Internal Systems for further information) does exist, but whether it is texture or taste is hard to identify.
Their sixth sense, that of telepathy, is highly developed, and they are able to bespeak any person should they choose to do so. Dragons also have an excellent spatial sense. This is particularly useful when emerging and going between and is the reason why they don't collide with others Dragons when arriving into a crowded airspace.
Intelligence:
Considerable intelligence is displayed by Dragons. However, their memories are notoriously short, their recall lasting from 2-3 days. They seem to have particular problems in remembering specific events and names, frequently slurring or compressing syllables. In fact, this is the origin of the honorific. Some Dragons are reported to chat incessantly, whilst others rarely speak except to express an opinion. Riders on the whole tend to be biased when their lifemate is under consideration and will often be close mouthed about what their Dragon has said.
Dragons rarely communicate directly with anyone but their Rider, but they do have the ability. Generally it is assumed that they do not usually feel the need to communicate with others, but when they do, it is usually only in short phrases.
It seems that certain matters do interest them, since they can be highly intuitive about what affects them and their Riders, and in leading Dragons their Wing or Weyr, with some Dragons offering suggestions on problem solving.
Dragons do seem to have some difficulty relating cause and effect. For example, if a Dragon saw his Rider making straps, the Dragon wouldn't necessarily correlate that to his Rider's increased safety during Threadfall. However, they do possess an instinctive inbred hatred and reaction to Thread and are difficult to dissuade from attacking even if they aren't stocked with Firestone.
Growth and Development:
A newly hatched Dragonet has a jaw that will fit over a man's head, although their teeth are not fully formed. Since they do not need to hunt, the lack of the front teeth is not important.
Dragonets feed six or seven times a day during their first month, but eventually this evens out to around twice a sevenday by the end of the first Turn when they are hunting for themselves. The new Riders are responsible for feeding their lifemates, although the first morning after impression a pail of meat is provided for the new pairs. After that, Riders are responsible for carving up the meat for their lifemates, chopping the morsels into small pieces. After feeding the Dragonets sleep, and then generally need to be bathed and then oiled.
Dragons take between a Turn and a Turn and a half to reach maturity and full growth. However, they remain in proportion throughout their development, with their wingspan at 1 and 2/3's of their length. Gold Dragons grow to be the largest Dragons, ranging between 38 to 42 metres in size. Bronzes range between 35 to 38 metres, whilst Browns, Blues and Greens range between 30 to 35, 25 to 30 and 20 to 25 metres respectively.
Young Dragons are discouraged from flight until their muscles have been developed sufficiently, usually at around 8 months. As a young Dragon approaches maturity, the Weyrlingmaster will allow them to carry their Riders, briefly at first, but increasing to build muscle strength and allow them to fly through an arduous 6 hour Threadfall.
Similarly, young Dragons are prevented from going between until their Riders mature and have achieved sufficient control over their emotions. This delay also ensures that the bond, partnership and reliability on each other has developed. Probably due to their short memories, Dragons rely on the images given to them by their Riders, or other Dragons. Without a clear visualisation, a Dragon will risk never reappearing, and thus Dragons are rarely permitted between on their own.
Dragons also possess the capability of going between time, though inherent dangers are involved in this. Not only does a Rider risk meeting themselves, it also places a great strain on the Rider. Generally, a Weyrleader will not permit Riders to 'time it' and anyone suspected of such will be severely disciplined.
Maturity:
As they mature, Dragons display various signs of aging. These include greying of the muzzle, stiffening of the joints and, occasionally, loss of teeth. However, the former may be related to the rigours of Threadfall and training.
During a Gold Dragon's lifetime, it is common that one or two 'dead' eggs are produced, but as she ages they may become more numerous. A Gold may also stop producing clutches or rising to mate.
It has never been known for a Dragon to die of old age. Nevertheless, Dragons who lose their lifemates do suicide, although it is not necessarily so vice versa. Although Dragonless Riders are generally considered to be 'half-people', female Riders seem to find solace more easily than males, supplementing their loss with children. Other Riders find solace in Firelizard partnerships.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:21 pm
Introduction to Common Injuries
* Fellis is deadly to dragons and firelizards. In the place of that pain killer, numbweed or another remedy can be used.
* Don't between when a dragon's in pain. Their concentration is compromised, and that could leave dragon and rider lost forever.
* The lifemate of the healing pair can help steady the injured dragon by locking gaze and minds, with Golds being the best for this act.
* Weyrfolk don't usually get sick, except from the occasional stomach ache from overeating or drinking, or the more common kidney or liver infection.
* A rider untrained in the specifics of dragon healing can administer some relief to his own lifemate without the healer being present such as:
o Purge the dragon if constipated.
o Applying numbweed to a bitten tongue.
o Rubbing unguents into weary muscles.
Cardiovascular
* In older dragons, age and strain weakens the heart. Signs to overexertion of a strained heart are irregular beat (usually second or third heart) and lethargy and water retention.
* Remedy: light daily exercise. Avoid stress.
Chafed Skin
* The hide can become cracked from improperly made, sized, or unoiled straps, or even some other irritant. This can become quite painful, and even more so between.
* Remedy:
Constipation
* This usually occurs from overeating in weyrling dragons, and is shown by a thickened tail.
* Remedy: Purge the system of uneliminated excreta. Massage down the tail to help him or her relieve it.
Cuts
* Caused by a multitude of things.
* Remedy: Clean with redwort, and allow to heal uncovered. If it's deep, suture it. Use numbweed to deaden the pain, assist in clotting, and keeping the injured area moist.
Fractures
* A dragon's bones are difficult to break, and difficult to set and heal. Broken limbs can be caused by many things from poor landings, over exuberant flying in mating flights (where'd that rim come from?), and the like. Simple fractures don't have the abnormal angle of bones, even rupturing hide surface, like compounds.
* Remedy:
o Simple: If the bone is unaligned, move back into place, then place splints at 90 degrees to each other, and wrap with bandages. Splints can be made.
o Compound:
1. Clean the injured area with redwort.
2. Align the bone edges and lock into place. You can splint with wherry gut inside if needed.
3. Suture the damaged muscles and veins from inside or outside.
4. Wrap the splint around the injured area, using reeds and cloth.
5. Check for signs of infection and poor healing. Coat the area with numbweed 3-4 times a day until the hide has healed over.
Over Stressing
* Another common ailment of weyrling dragons is caused by growing muscles and overdoing things. Sometimes it's caused by older dragons from flights, sweeps, and Fall. The signs of it are the area being favored, limping, or in the case of a wingbone, the sail will seem misshapen.
* Remedy: Wrap the area with cloth, using reeds to immobilize if necessary, and have the dragon rest. Sometimes swimming helps regain control of the stressed tendon. No flying if hindleg or wing is injured this way.
Patchy Hide
* This is usually seen in younger dragons, or in dragons with wrong sized harnesses. The hide will seem dry, patchy and itches.
* Remedy: Oil. The growing dragons are supposed to be oiled daily, and if this is the case more oil or a switch in the strength of it.
Respiratory
* Colds are evident by runny nose and lethargy. Remedy: Plenty of water and rest.
* Pneumonia is rare, and caused by a secondary infection after an extensive thoracic injury (like Thread). Signs of it are high temperature, labored breathing, coughing with no phlegm, dull eyes, cold hide that's clammy to the touch or hot, clammy hide. Remedy: Warm water, keep warm with blankets. She/He will need to breath in steam-vapours of hysop, thymus and/or aconite.
Rupture Veins
* This can be caused by Threadscoring, and is evident by seepage of unclotted ichor.
* Remedy: Cover with numbweed to clot the ichor. Stitch area plus a finger's breadth on either side of the wound, using fine stitches of treated thread. Apply numbweed and keep area moist until healed.
Sprains
* See over stressing.
Stomach Complaints
* Either overeating or bad firestone causes discomfort in the dragon's stomachs.
* Remedy: If it's from firestone, this usually clears up after expelling the ash. Overeating can lend itself to other problems like constipation.
Suturing
* Clean the area with redwort, treat the needles and thread.
* Gut thread is used for inside since it dissolves over time.
* Treated tanner thread is used for outside.
* Cross stitch heavily used areas.
* Back stitch the end of the suture.
Talon Loss
* Weyrling dragons commonly lose a talon during the flying and hunting lessons.
* Remedy: The talon will regrow in several sevendays.
Threadscore
* Minor scoring can be treated by the rider. A dragon is supposed to go between when scored to kill off the Thread. The worst injuries occur to the wing's edges: leading, tailing and finger sail.
* Remedy: Cleanse with water, and douse with numbweed for pain. Let heal uncovered.
Transfusions
* Rarely needed, they are used to replenish ichor by drawing, through a large needlethorn syringe, from a healthy dragon and placed over the injuries of the hurt one.
* Bones and cartilage will soak up the new ichor.
Tongue Bites
* When learning to chew firestone, weyrling dragons tend to bite the tongue.
* Remedy: Apply numbweed to the affected area.
Wing
* Wing tears can be quite dangerous. Minor ones will heal in a few days, and major will take a few sevendays. For help in visualizing the wing and its parts, see the diagram.
o Fragmented Leading Edge: The cartilage of the leading edge is torn, stretched, bent.
o Wrenched Finger Tip: The forestay tip is broken, or bent back from the joint above.
o Stretched Tendon: Tendons around any one of the bones stretched, misshaping the sails.
o Tattered Mainsail: The wing itself is torn or broken through.
* Remedy: The healer will need a table, bolt of cloth, basket reeds, assistance, jug of oil, pot of thin numbweed, needle box, spool of treated thread, and a washing bowl.
1. Survey the damage from dragonback, then put a table in front of the wing to stand on.
2. When the dragon landed, assistants should have already slathered numbweed on the wounds in order to promote clotting, and to deaden pain.
3. Coat hands with oil three times then dry, then two more to lessen the effect that numbweed will have.
4. Have everyone wash up in redwort.
5. Have someone cut lengths of cloth as long as the leading edge.
6. Have someone thread needles with armslength of thread.
7. Support the wing underneath with cloth, then stitch it to the wingbone and stretch it tight from dorsal (with assistance of course) to the finger joint.
8. Make neat tacks along the dorsal, and use liberal amounts of numbweed so that there is no pain.
9. Fasten to the underside, pull taunt again, and attach the cloth and basket reeds below the wing to substitute for shattered battens and sails.
10. Take numbweed paddle and smear the cloth with salve thin enough so wing tatters can be placed on the cloth for regrowth and formation.
11. Lay on the cloth what wingsail fragments remain.
12. Brace the trailing edge with reeds and gauze.
13. If all goes well, the dragon's wing will mend with overlapping of growth. The wing will be a bit scarred for a few Turns, but will eventually be worn down to smoothness. She/he will learn how to compensate for the change in wing's form once in flight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:31 am
Plants of Pern Reference Guide
[<<] Aconite (H)
-Known location: near Fort Hold
- Growth form: root
- Uses: medicinal herb, anodyne, for heart palpitations. Root is used in a powdered form.
- Outside Info: All parts of this plant are toxic. The root is used externally for nerve- related pain. It is a sedative, painkiller, and anti-fever treatment. The plant grows to 1.5m with helmut-sheped voilet flowers in early summer.
[<<] Adonis
- Uses: medicinal herb, anodyne, for heart palpitations.
-Outside Info: Grows to 20cm. Has feathery leaves with bright yellow daisy-like flowering tops in spring. All parts of the plant are toxic, and the flowering tops contain seeds which contain sedatives and heart stimulants.
[<<]Air vines
-Known location: Paradise River
[<<] Alfalfa
-Uses: medicinal, as a tea it is good for the stomach. diuretic. Outside -Info: Grows to 80cm. Has purple flowers and 3-part leavs. Leavs and sprouted seeds can be eaten in salads. It is an appetite stimulant for convalescents, and is used by Arabs as horse fodder to increase speed. It is also said to increase production of cow's milk. The seeds are used to make a yellow dye.
[<<] Almond
-Growth form: tree
- Known locations: Benden Hold
- Uses: edible nuts Outside Info: Has dark bark, and rose to white flowers in early spring. The fixed oil from the kernel is used in cosmetics and as a base for some medicines.
[<<] Aloe
- Uses: medicinal herb, for burns Outside Info: The gel can be used in shampoo for dry,itchy scalp. It speeds cell regeneration and is 1st aid for small burns, cuts, chapped skin, sunburn, eczema, and dermatitis.
[<<] Ash (I)
- Growth form: Tree
- General habitat: 'higher reaches' (dragonlovers guide)-hills/higher ground over the flat plains(?)
- Uses: ash bark used medicinally, as a diuretic and febrifuge. Outside Info: Because of the variety of trees called 'ash', it is difficult t
[<<] Asparagus
- Uses: asparagus tinticure used (primarily in Weyrs) to stave off drunkedness. Also is a part of the 'killer cure' for hangovers.
[<<] Bamboo grasses (N)
-Growth form: bamboo-like grassoid, triangular cross-section
-Known locations: Nerat Hold, Southern Hold
- General habitat: marshy land
- Uses: Nerat: braid and twisted like wicker, used for furniture.
-Southern: used as food
- Misc.: light and strong. Southern:"...grow so swiftly that in the afternoon a kitchen auntie has to cut down stalks she planted in the morning, or they will be too tough to eat at dinner." (Dragonlovers)
[<<] Banana
- Known locations: Boll
[<<] Barley
-Uses: brewed as tea to combat symptoms of cystis (common complaint of female dragonriders)
- Outside Info: Grain is used for cereal, meal, bread, soups, and is used to brew beer, whiskey, and gin. Malt extract and barley foods aid convalescence and soothe internal passages. Germinated grain treats bronchitis. Straw left to rot in pond water inhibits algae growth.
[<<] Basil
- Uses: medicinal herb, antispasmodic
- Outside Info: Grows in many forms. The essential oil scents soaps and perfumes, and is used to treat anxiety, headaches, respitory problems, and aids concentration and digestion. An infusion of basil aids digestion and is a nerve tonic. The essential oil should be avoided during pregnancy. Basil can be used in salads.
[<<] Beachberry
- Uses: edible, used in pies.
[<<] Beans (I,H)
-Growth form: Earth beans Uses: food
-Outside Info:Bean pods help reduce high blood pressure and regulate blood sugar metabolism.
[<<] Berries
- Known location: Igen/Lemos forest
- Uses: edible, can be made into jam. Berry wax can be made into candles.
- Misc.: Berries are often talked about, but sometimes not noted which type they are.
[<<] Birch
- Growth form: tree
- Known location: Igen/Lemos forests
[<<] Blackberries
- Growth form: Earth blackberry bush
- Known locations: High Reaches Hold
- Uses: fruit, made into brandy
- Outside Info: Leaf decoction is a blood and skin tonic. A poultice of the leaf treats eczema. Fruits create a blue-grey dye, and the young shoots (with alum as a moderant) make a creamy fawn color.
[<<] Black marshberries
- Known location: near Half-Circle Seahold
- Uses: edible, large quantities could be pressed for oil
[<<] Blooming plant
- Known location:Southern Boll
- misc. info: Has fragrant pink blossoms tangling in clusters. Blooms in 'winter'. possibly year round.
[<<] Blueberry (I)
- Growth form: Earth blueberry bush
- Uses: fruit, most popular for bubbly pies
[<<] Borage, Borrago(?) (I,H)
- Growth form:herb
- Uses: medicinal and/or cooking herb, used for coughs
- Outside Info: Grows to 60cm, with blue star-like flowers. The flowers can be used to decorate salads and cakes. The leavs flavor drinks and dips. A leaf and flower infusion is an adrenalin tonic for stress, depression, or cortisone and steroid treatment. It reduces fevers, dry coughs, dry skin rashes, and stimulates milk folow. Pressed seed oil can be used for menstural and irratible bowel problems, eczema, blood pressure, arthritis, and hangover. The flowers produce a nice pure blue for paints. Mix leaf with barley and bran in a small muslin bag and use in a bath to cleanse and soften skin.
[<<] Box
- Uses: medicinal, diaphoretic
[<<] Bran
[<<] Brassicae
- Known location: Nabol
- Outside Info: Brassicae is part of the scientific name of a variety of plants commonly known as mustards. At one time, it may have been adopted as another name for mustard. Unfortunately, I do not remember which book had this term.
[<<] Bulge-nut
- Known location: Igen/Lemos forrest.
- Uses: edible, large quantities can be made into bread.
- Misc.: The acid from the nut kills other undergrowth.
[<<] Celery
Known location: Nabol
[<<] Cherries (I,H)
Growth form: Earth cherry
[<<] Citron
- Growth Form: Large shrub or small tree
-Uses: fruit (contains vitamin C). Used by Moreta as a hopeful preventative.
- Outside Info: Info on Citron can be found at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/citron.html
[<<] Comfrey (H)
- Known location: Fort Hold
- Uses: medicinal herb, used for burns, coughs
- Outside Info: Likes damp grasslands, river banks and woodlands. Oval, pointed leaf is marbled with green and yellow. Flowers range from blue to pink to white, and bloom in spring. The plants grow to 120cm. The leaf contains vitamins and minerals that speeds cell renewal of damaged muscels and broken bones. The leaf tea aids inflamed, ulcerated digestive tracts and eases coughs. Leaf poultice reduces swelling and brusing around sprains and arthritic joints. Comfrey speeds healing of cuts, bruises, open sores, and eczema. Internal use of roots and large amounts of leavs should be avoided. The leaf and root can be infused and added to a bath or lotion to soften skin. To make an 'oil' for eczema and skin inflammations, cut clean, dry leavs into 1" squares, put in clean,dark jar, and store unopened for 2 years. Decant into small container.
[<<] Conifers
- Known locations: Tillek, High Reaches
[<<]Coriander (I,H)
- Growth form:herb
- Uses: medicinal and/or cooking herb
- Outside Info: Grows to 20cm, flowers in summer. Leavs are used in Mid Eastern and Asian cusine. Its mildly narcotic seeds are used in pickles, cakes, biscuits, pies, curries, and liquors. The root is added to curries and the stem to beans and soups. It is a wine flavoring used by the Greeks. The seed is mildly sedative, aids digestion, reduces flatulence and eases migranes. The essential oil is made from the seeds, and is used in perfumes. It flavors medicine and toothpaste and is added to massage oil for facial neuralgia and cramps.
[<<] Corn (I)
- Growth form:Earth corn
- Known locations: Paradise River Hold
- Outside Info: Corn can be made into vegitable oil and cornstarch. Cornstarch is used in cosmetics, laundry starch, and as a base for suppositorys. Cornsilk is a stimulant, diuretic, and is soothing, treats liver weakness and hypertension. A silk and bract poultice draws puss from wounds. Empty cob treats bleeding, roots and leavs treat urinary difficulties.
[<<] Cotton (I)
- Growth form: Terran cotton
- Known location: Fort Hold, Boll, Southern
- General habitat: sand+clay soil
- Uses: made into thread, cotton velvet material, other materials
- Outside Info: Seeds are pressed for edible oil, residual oil is used for stock food. Gossypol, extracted from seed oil, has potential as a male contraceptive. Oil is antivirul, antibacterial, and eases menstural pain. Seed hairs are woven into fabric.
[<<] Cottonwood tree (I,H?)
- Growth form: Earth cottonwood tree
- General habitat: open plains
- Uses: Used by the colonists to break ground and provide shelter for oak and pine seedlings.
- Outside Info: Cottonwood is a very weak-wooded tree, and branches may come down in heavy storms.
[<<] Creeper vine
- Growth form: clinging vine
- General habitat: grows from borders of grain field
- Misc.: strangles crops. (wheat)
[<<] Cress
- Known location: general area of Half-Circle seahold
- General habitat: streams by ocean where water freshens
- Uses: edible, sweet with a tangy aftertaste.
- Outside Info: Most likely the type of cress mentioned in Dragonsinger is watercress. It has small white flowers in spring and summer, pungent compound leavs, with large terminal leaflet. Popular in salads and soups. It is diuretic, an expectorant tonic for anemia, prevents scurvy, cleanses the blood, and clears the skin. It is a folk treatment for tuberculosis and internal tumors.
[<<] Cucumber
- Uses: used for burns
- Outside Info: Fresh slices give a cooling eye compress. The pressed seed oil is edible. Pulped flesh is added to facial masks and sooths sunburn. Leaves treat fever and intestinal flu. Fruit is eaten raw, pickled, or cooked.
[<<] Deal
- Growth form: tree
- Known location: Lemos
- Misc.: grows quickly.
[<<] Dragon's tongue (N)
- Growth form: similar to Aloe
- Uses: for burns
[<<] Ezob (H)
- Known location: near Fort Hold
- Uses: medicinal herb, diaphoretic. Used for coughs.
[<<] Featherfern
- Growth form: Fern(?)
- Known location:Fort Hold, Southern
- Uses: to relieve fever, used in tonic. Also used on runners.
[<<] Fellis Tree (N)
- Growth form: small, branchy, drooping tree.
- Flowers: fragrant, pink(DragonQuest) yellow(DragonLovers Guide) clustered blooms with pointed petals. Has clusters of berry-like fruit.
- Fruit: Fellis juice made from the fruit, which has though skins. Known locations: Southern Weyr area, Nerat, Telgar Hold, Fort Hold, Paradise River Hold (wild), Ruatha
- Uses: dye (dyes wherhide a deep green), narcotic painkiller that can be addictive. Wood is used to carve furniture.
-Misc.: At Paradise river, Fellis trunks grow larger than 3 men could span with fingers touching. Large enough amounts can be lethal. (Nerkila)
[<<] Ferns
- Growth form: Fern
- Known location: Southern Weyr
- General habitat: tropical regions
- Uses: improvised bedding
[<<] Fingeroots (carrots)
- Known locations: Fort Hold, Nabol
- Uses: edible
[<<] Flax (I)
- Growth form: Earth flax
- Known location: Boll
- Uses: fiber for weaving
- Outside Info: Stem yields durable fibers, used to make linen and twine. It has slender stems with linear green leavs, flat blue flowers, and oily brown seeds. The mineral-rich seeds yield cold-pressed oil for cooking and hot pressed linseed oil for artist's and industrial use. Seeds contain soothing mucilage, oil contains fatty acids that reduces the risk of thrombosis and treats nutritional deficiencies. Internal overdose may cause poisoning. The seeds can also be used in 'eye pillows' to gently cool tired or sore eyes.
[<<] Garlic
- Known locations: fort Weyr
- Uses: edible, medicinal, used for high blood pressure, as a cold remedy, used by Moreta as a pallative
[<<] Ging
- Growth form: Tree. Thick and spongy fronds.
- Known location: Ista
- Uses: Fronds can be used as improvised forest bedding. The fronds make handy needlethorn packages, as the sap from the cut edges of leavs forms its own glue. Leaf sap will also seal puncture wounds. In _Moreta_, it was stated that softnuts (which are edible) were 'on all the trees', so it could be assumed that they are ging softnuts.
- Misc.: Moreta described the ging forrest in the fall as "a green face with a thousand black-rimmed eyes." Needlethorn is always found in the presence of ging trees.
[<<]Ginkgo (I,H)
- Growth form: Tree
- General habitat: open plains
- Uses: Colonists used Ginkgo to break ground and provide shelter for oak and pine seedlings.
- Outside Info: Notched, fan-sheped leavs that turn yellow in fall. The seeds and leavs are used in Chineese medicine for lung problems. Extract from yellow leavs contains vitamins that strengthens blood vessels and reduces production of tissue-damaging 'free radicals' and tarpones (which reduce clump-forming blood platelets). It is said to improve brain efficiency and cellular energy. When ripe, the seeds give off a foul-smelling odor.
[<<] Glovecap
- Uses: medicinal herb, anodyne
[<<] Goru pear
- Uses: it is a tart fruit. Reference to the Perneese Goru pear (it's mentioned in the Freedon series as well) can be found in Moreta, chapter 5 (p.68 of paperback version)
[<<] Grain
- Known location: near Benden Weyr, Telgar, Half-Circle seahold, Paradise River Hold
- Uses: edible
- Misc.: most of grain consumed in north grown by Telgar. Telgar also has best beer in Pern
[<<] Grapes (I)
- Growth form: Earth grapes
- Known locations: Benden, Fort(H), Tillek, Nabol, Lemos, Nerat
- Uses: fruit, wine.
- Outside Info: Processed grape residue is used to make cream of tartar. The leavs provide a food wrap, pressed seeds produce a fine culinary oil, also valued for aromatherapy massage.
[<<] Grass
- Location: River Islands in Southern.
- Uses: Tufts contain theraputic seeds, branches can be bundled and used as a temporary raft(eventually they'll absorb too much water), the heart (just above the root ball) can be dried and ground into a powder that is good for fever, esp. Firehead. The shoots are edible.
[<<] Grasses
- Known locations: various forms exist over many parts of Pern
- Uses: bedding
[<<] Green fruits
- (Lime? Dragonlovers lists a green citrus fruit. Green apple? Pear?)
- Known location: Southern, Cove Hold, Ista(Citrus)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:32 am
Plants of Pern Reference Guide
[<<] Greens
Known location: near Half-Circle seahold, Nabol
Uses: used like salad, served with dressing.
[<<]Gooseberry (I)
Growth form: Earth gooseberry bush
Uses: fruit
[<<] Hardwoods
Growth form: tree
Known location: Lemos, Igen
Uses: rarely, used to make small quantities of lye soap
Misc.: all hardwoods are imported
[<<] Hazel, Witch (I,H)
Uses: medicinal herb, for skin
Outside Info: In this case, most likely witchhazel. It is a large shrub with smooth brown bark, fragrant winter flowers, and woodsy fruit capsules. A distillation fron the leavs and flower-bearing twigs is used in skin products for it's disinfectant and astrigent properties. It is used on chapped and sunburned skin, bruises, swelling, rashes, to stop bleeding, and to reduce vericose veins and hemmoriods. Seeds are edible and can be brewed for a warming tea.
[<<] Hazel nut tree
Known location:Benden Hold
Outside Info: A large shrub that grows to 10m. Has male catkins in spring and clusters of nuts in fall. Nuts are eaten raw and used in candy, cakes and liquers. The edible nut oil is used in cooking, perfumes, and lubricants.
[<<]Hemp
Known locations: Nabol, Southern(?)
Uses: rope
Outside Info: Hemp seed oil is used in soaps and lotions.
[<<] Herbs
Uses: varieties of herbs are stored with clothes and bedsheets, possibly to keep bugs away and to keep the cloth fresh-smelling. Aromatic herbs (possibly peppermint amoung others) stepped in hot water to make breathing easier.
[<<] Hissop, Hyssop (H)
Known location: near Fort Hold
Uses: medicinal herb, used for coughs. It is said that a winecupfull a day keeps off respitory problems, such as croup.
Outside Info: Semievergreen shrub with aromatic leavs and spikes of blue, two-tipped late summer flowers. Leaf is added to liquors, adds bite to sweet and savory dishes, and aids in digestion of fatty meals. Leavs contain antiseptic, antiviral oil. A mold that produces pennicilin grows on the leavs. An infusion is taken as a sedative expectorant for the flu, bronchitis, and phlegm. Leaf poultice treats bruises and wounds. The essential oil is used in perfumes and treats cold sores, helps disperse bruises, and helps heal scars. The essential oil should be used with caution, as it is fairly hazardous. Hyssop should be avoided by pregnant women and people with hypertension or epilepsy. Hyssop is added to potpourris and laundry rinses.
[<<]Hops (I,H)
Growth form: Earth hops
Uses: medicinal herb, anaodyne
Outside Info: One of the primary ingredients of beer. Young shoots are eaten as a vegetable, leavs are blanched for soups. Hop tea is a nerve tonic, mild sedative, muscle relaxant. The essential oil is used in perfumes and lotions. Hops can cause skin allerges. Dried flower bracts can be used in herbal 'pillows' to aid/help induce sleep.
[<<] Ilex
Uses: For pneumonia.
Outside Info: Ilex is part of the scientific name of the Holly family. The tea from different spiecies have different medicinal uses, so it is probably the leaf tea that is used to treat pneumonia on Pern.
[<<] Itch-leaf
Known locations:Fort Hold
Misc.: obnoxious weed
[<<] Kiwi (I)
Known location: Boll, Igen
Uses: fruit
Misc.: genetically altered form of Kiwi.
[<<] Klahbark Tree (N)
Growth form: tree
Known locations: near Half-Circle seahold, Benden Hold
Uses: Bark is brewed to produce a coffee-like substance, tastes like a cross between coffee and chocolate, with a spicy aftertaste. The bark is also used as a spice.
[<<] Lavender
Known location: Nabol
Outside Info: Flowers flavor jams, vinegars, sweets, creams, stews. Dried flowers are used in potpourri. Leaf is bitter and sometimes used in cooking. Flower water is a skin toner useful for cell renewal and is an antiseptic for acne. Flower tea treats anxiety, headaches, flatulence, nausea, dizziness, and halitosis. The essential oil is used in perfumes and is antiseptic, mildly sedative, and painkilling. The oil is applied to insect bites, treats burns, sore throats, and headaches. Oil is added to baths as a relaxant. Treats rheumatic aches, insomnia, depression, high blood pressure, lymphatic congestion, poor digestion, and menstrual problems. Use the essential oil in a massage oil for muscle aches. Use a few drops of oil in final rinse water for linen or hair. Because of it's versitality, lavender essential oil is probably stocked in all holds, and is likely to be part of trader's wares.
[<<] Legumes (I)
Growth form: Earth legumes(?)
Known location: Fort Hold, Ruatha
Uses: edible, added to savory dishes to thicken them up
[<<] Lemongrass
Known locations: Benden Weyr bowl
Uses: edible
Outside Info: The stem and leaf have a distinct lemon flavor. Leaf tea treats diarrhea, stomachache, headache, fevers, flu, and is antiseptic. The essential oil is used in cosmetics, food, and aromatherapy to improve circulation and muscle tone. Antiseptic oil treats athlete's foot and acne, a spray reduces airborne bacteria.
[<<] Lentils (I,H)
[<<] Lovage (I,H)
Growth form:herb
Uses: medicinal herb used for coughs
Outside Info: Grows to 2m. It has large, dark green celery-scented leaves and hollow stems. Queen-Anne's lace type greenish yellow flowers bloom mid to late summer. Leaves give body and aroma to soups and stews. The root is grated raw into salads, is pickled, or used as a powdered condiment. Seeds are sprinkled on bread or rice, salads, mashed potatoes, or steeped in brandy for a settling digestive, and used in perfumes. An infusion of seeds, roots, or leaves reduces water retention and assists the elimination of toxins. The expectorant root treats mouth ulcers, tonsillitis, bronchitis, cystitis, and menstrual pain. It should be avoided during pregnancy and by those with kidney problems. Tea can be made from leaf. Stem can be steamed and served with a white sauce, or chopped into soups or stews.
[<<] Lur-weed
Growth form: weed
Known location:Tillek
Misc. Info Sends runnerbeasts (and possibly other animals) into convulsions. Typically, runnerbeasts don't eat lur-weed.
[<<] Mandamo trees
Growth form: tree
Known location: Southern Hold
Uses: a segment of the trunk was used for message drums in Southern.
Misc.: gracefully draped across a path in Southern.
[<<] Mangoes
Known location: Boll
Outside Info: Fast growing tree, grows up to 30m. 1-2 crops a year of large, musk- scented fruit. Fruit can be eaten raw, candied, or pickled. Unripe fruit and tender leavs are used as sour flavorings. In India, bark is used to treat internal bleeding, dysentary, and throat diseases. Leaf ash is used for burns. A secret recipe for artist's paint used the urine of cows fed on mango leavs. Unripe fruit, peel, seeds, flowers and resin have medicinal uses.
[<<] Marshberries
Form: Bush
Flower: yellow
General habitat: low marsh valleys
Known location: near Half-circle seahold
[<<] Marsh grasses
Form: coarse grass, cane
Known location: Half-Circle seahold, by coast
General habitat: in bogs
Uses: canes can be made into reed pipes.
[<<]Meadowsweet
Growth form: herb, white and blue flowers
Uses: analgesic herb
Outside Info: Has clusters of almond-scented cream blossoms. Grows to 2m. Flowers give an almond flavor to meads, herb wines, jam, and stewed fruit. Dried flowers scent linen and yield an astringent skin tonic. Flower buds contain salicylic acid, and can be used similar to aspirin. Flower tea can be used for stomach ulcers and headaches, as an antiseptic diuretic, and for feverish colds, diarrhea, and heartburn. Tea is mildly painkilling. Anti-inflammitory action treats rheumatism. Flowering tops make a greenish yellow dye, leaves make a blue dye, the roots a black dye.
[<<] Melons
Known locations: Igen, Ista, wild melons near Boll
[<<] Mint
Known locations: Benden Weyr bowl
Uses: seasoning(?). Mint sticks rubbed over teeth as a toothbrush/mouthwash
Outside Info: There are dozens of varieties of mints, with different flavors and medicinal uses. All mints or mint products should be used sparingly or avoided completely during pregnancy.
[<<] Mockweed
[<<] Moonflower
Growth form: vine
Fruit: orange-red fruit
Known locations: Southern, Nerat
[<<] Mosstea
Growth form: herb
Uses: for drinking as a tea, dressing wounds against infection.
[<<] Mustard
Known locations: Nabol
Outside Info: There are many varieties of mustard, and each has different medicinal properties. Black mustard was once the most widely used to make the condiment known as mustard before being replaced with the more mechanical harvester friendly brown mustard. It is possible that one or both of these varieties exist on Pern. Black mustard seeds stimulate circulation, treat bronchitis, give a warming footbath, and in a poultice they reduce inflammation. Treats chillbains and rheumatism. Oil is a lubricant. In China, brown mustard seeds are used to treat colds, stomach problems, abscesses, rheumatism, lumbago, and ulcers. The leavs treat bladder inflamation. 1 tablespoon of crushed seed in warm water induces vomiting. Young leavs can be added to salad.
[<<] Needlethorn (N)
Growth form: several cactus-like 'stalks' from a single base of broadleaf. (DragonLovers shows 3 stalks, 3 leaves). A succulent bush with holliw, toxic brown spines. The skin of the plant has fine hairs that can cause irritation, possibly inflammation of skin it comes in contact with.
Known location: Ista, Nerat
Uses: needles used as syringe for injections and to draw blood.
Misc.: Needlethorn is omnivorous and shoots its thorns at anything that disturbs it during its growing season. It falls into a dormant stage when the flowers of the ging tree (ginkgo?) open. These plants are always found together. The spines are poisonous through spring and summer. "The vine grows during the winter and has to shed its old corona or leave too many unprotected gaps. I understand the flesh is tasty.""During the spring and summer the bush has an odor to attract snakes and insects. The hollow spines suck essential juices from the creature the plant impales, and also rainwater."(Moreta) Needlethorns are also used for transfusions. (Masterharper)
[<<] Nettleweed
Growth form: perennial.
Known location: Ruathan fields.
Uses: medicinal, used in a tonic
[<<]Numbweed (N)
Growth form: bush. plaquey, thorny greenery. The leafs are opposing, and arrowhead-shaped, with a terminating leaf at the end of the branch. The plant has a grey-green color. They sprout tufts of blossoms, similar to statice.
Known location: Nerat, Southern
General habitat: jungle areas
Uses: 'raw' or made into a salve, it numbs skin to pain.
Misc.: too much numbweed will cause bleeding and scarring. To prepare the salve, it requires 3 days of stewing, then 1 day to strain it, and the juice skimmed to the right consistency for the salve (Southern). Runners carry an oiled packet that has a cloth soaked in numweed to cleanse and ease scratches.
[<<] Nutmegoid (I,H)
Growth form:herb, from First-Centauri
Uses: cooking herb
[<<] Oak (I,H)
Growth form: Tree
Outside Info: There are several varieties of oak, and may have different medicinal uses. The English Oak's bark is astrigent and antiseptic, and a decoction of the bark is drunk to treat acute diarrhea, gargled for sore throats, and applied as a compress for burns and cuts. It is added to ointments for cuts and hemmoriods. Acorns are fed to pigs. Oak bark provides tannin- since leather tanners seemed immune to terberculosis, the bark was once used to treat the disease. Oak galls are the primary ingredient in ink.
[<<] Oats
Growth form: Terran Oats
Known location:Bitra
[<<] Oilbrush
Known location: Igen
Uses: used for cooking fires. In Igen, pockets of bread were cooked on metal sheets over an oilbrush fire.
[<<] Onion (I)
Form: Earth onion
Known locations: (H)wild near Fort Hold, wild in Lemos/Igen forrest.
Outside Info: Red onion skins with moderant of copper and acetic acid create a rich brown dye.
[<<] Orange fruit, Citron?
(Oranges?, Oranges were imported, and flourished) Growth form: tree
Known location: Southern Hold/Weyr, Cove Hold, Ista Misc.: the trees are thorny.
Outside Info: Orange flower water is an excellent skin tonic. Orange flower treats dry skin and broken capillaries, and stimulates cell replacement.
[<<] Palm
Known location: Ista
Uses: has an edible heart. 'crispy, cool, and crunchy' (Moreta)
[<<] Parsnips (I)
Growth form: Terran parsnip
Known location: Fort Hold
Uses: edible
[<<] Pawberry
Known location:Bitra Hold
Uses: Leavs boil to make the finest red for paints.
[<<] Peach
Growth form: tree Known location: Boll
Uses: fruit
Outside Info: Seed oil is used in cosmetics and medicines. The tree has solitary, pink spring flowers.
[<<] Peanuts (I)
Growth form: Terran peanut
Known locations: Fort Hold
Uses: edible, used in several dishes
Outside Info: Used as a cooking oil, some people are allergic to peanuts.
[<<] Pears (I,H)
Growth form: tree
Known location: High Reaches Hold, Nerat
Uses: fruit, made into brandy
[<<] Pecan
Growth form: tree
Known location: Nerat
Uses: edible nut
[<<]Peppers
Known location: Ista
Uses: edible
Outside Info: It is probable that Pern has several varieties of peppers, from bell to chili to hot, all of which have different culinary and medicinal uses. They usually have yellow or green flowers. The pungent capsaicin of chilis stimulates circulation and sensory nerves, and eases sore throats. Infused chili oil gives a warming massage for rheumatism, cold limbs, and neuralgia.
[<<] Peppermint
Growth Form: Terran peppermint
Uses: In 'sweet sticks' (hard candy).
Outside Info: Flav,ors sauces, vinegar, vegatables, desserts, used in teas, and candies. Peppermint oil has a mild antiseptic action. Mints are stimulant, aid digestion, reduce flatulence. Peppermint is antiseptic, antiparasitic, and antiviral. Peppermint is included in ointments and cold remedies and given for headaches and other aches and pains. The scent of the essential oil is inhaled to treat shock and nausea and improves concentration. The essential oil is also used for fatigue, digestion, travel sickness, headaches, toothache, and skin irratations.
[<<] Pine
Growth form: tree
Known locations: Nabol, Lemos
Misc.: grow quickly
[<<] Pink Root
Known location: Southern(?)
Uses: medicinal, for bellyache.
[<<] Pineapple (I)
Known location: Igen
Uses: fruit
Misc.: genetically alterd form of pineapple
Outside Info: New shoots are added to curries. Waste is made into vinegar or fed to livestock. Fruit helps menstural, urinary, and digestive problems. Plant enzymes reduce swelling, intensify antibiotics, and break down the fibrin protein that causes heart attacks and strokes.
[<<] Plumb (I,H)
Growth form: tree
Uses: fruit
Outside Info: Eaten fresh, dried, or as a jam. The tree has white 5 petaled spring flowers. Dried plumbs are given for their laxative effect.
[<<] PurpleGrass (I,H)
Known Locaton: Half-Circle Sea Hold
Growth form: grass
Uses: Purple Grass seed was used by Menolly's sister to flavor seaweed balls to keep Old Uncle quiet.
[<<] Raspberry (I)
Growth form: Earth raspberry bush
Uses: fruit
Outside Info: Shrub grows to 1.5m. It has small pink or white flowers, and the fruit yields a red dye. Is used to reduce anemia. Used in China for kidney problems and bedwetting. Dried leavs contain tannin. Leaf tea is used in late pregnancy to tone uterine and pelvic muscles. Tea reduces mentrural pain.
[<<] Redfruit (N)
Growth form: Fruit tree
Known locations: Southern, Nerat, High Reaches Hold, Nabol, Igen
Uses: edible, made into cider and brandy. Trees are also used for their wood.
Misc.: A native red fruit was listed in Dragonsdawn. According to Anne in the Kitchen Table forum, that redfruits are like a juicy plumb. There is probably a similar taste/appearance to Terran apples, since Sorka thought of apples when she ate one.
[<<] Redroots
Known locations: northern farms (under protection of Benden), Ista, wild on the rocky forrested slopes of Igen/Lemos.
Uses: edible
[<<] Red willow salic
Uses: analgesic herb
[<<] Redwort
Growth form: grows in clumps close to the ground. Has a thick stem, with reddish veins and produces flat-topped purple or rose flowers.
Uses: as a scrubbing/cleansing agent (disinfectant?) and also for infection.
Misc.: leaves a red stain on hands, has nasty stench (Nirelka), clean-smelling herb (Dragonlovers) used as an antiseptic wash and protects skin from being affected by numbweed.
[<<] Reeds
Growth form: reed
Known location: Southern, Cove Hold. Near Half-Circle seahold
Uses: can be used as straws for drinking, succulent reeds are edible. Can be used as fishing poles and splints for threadscored dragon wings. Reeds are also made into baskets. Used to make writing material. It's a 'local product' obtained by Petrion somewhere between Harper Hall and Pierie Hold. The writing material has a tendency to absorb ink, so it is a bit 'blotchy'.
Misc.: Both freshwater and sea water exist
[<<] Rind fruit
Known location: Igen Uses: fruit
[<<] Rivergrains (rice, I)
Growth form: rice Known locations: Fort Hold, Igen plains swampland, Southern, wild rice in Paradise river. Uses: Steam cooked to eat. Misc.: called 'rice' in Southern.
Outside Info: Grows to 180cm. Rice is easily digested. Rice porridge counters heavy feasting and is a cooling dish with medicinal uses. Can be fermented into Sake (rice wine). Roots treat fever sweating, sprouts relieve indigestion, strengthen stomach and spleen. The straw is made into hats. Ripe stems yield rich oil.
[<<] Rock weeds
Known location: Ruatha (Pleateau Hold)
[<<] Rowan (I,H)
Growth form: Tree
General habitat: 'higher reaches' (dragonlovers guide)-hills/higher ground over the flat plains(?)
Outside Info: Otherwise known as European Mountain Ash. It has clusters of cream colored spring flowers, and dense clusters of red berries. Berries are rich in vitamin C, and can be made into jelly, ground into flower, and fermented into wine. Seeds contain hydrocyanic acid and should be removed before berries are used. Berries can be made into a sore throat gargle. Bark and leavs are used in a gargle for thrush.
[<<] Rosemary (I,H)
Growth form:herb
Uses: medicinal and/or cooking herb
Outside Info: Dense, evergreen aromatic shrub with blue spring flowers. Grows to 2m. There are many varieties of rosemary. It goes well with pastas, shellfish, pork and lamb. It's antiseptic, antioxidant leavs help preserve food. They aid in the digestion of fat. Leavs used in conditioning rinses for dark hair and for dandruff shampoos. Stimulates circulation and eases aching joints by increasing blood supply. The essential oil is invigorating, antibacterial, and antifungal. Stimulates central nervous system and blood circulation, and releavs muscle pain. Dried stems can be burned on a fire for their aroma. Boil a handfull of rosemary in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes for an antiseptic solution for washig bathroom fixtures. Put leavs into bath to stimulate blood circulation. Rosemary is good as a mouthwash.
[<<] Rushes
Known locations: Fort Hold, Ruatha, but probably in most areas of Pern (?)
Uses: Bedding.
[<<] Sabsab brush
Known location:Bitra Hold
Uses:roots produce a yellow for paints.
[<<]Sage
Uses: used in combination with wintergreen and willow for a headache tea
Outside Info: Evergreen, grows to 80cm. Has mauve-blue flowers in summer. There are many varieties of sage. Sage is used to aid in the digestion of fatty meats, and is popular in poultry stuffings. Leaf tea is an antiseptic nerve and blood tonic. Contains hormone precursors that help irregular mensturation and menopause symptoms. Avoid large doses during pregnancy. Burn on embers or boil in water to disenfect a room. Sage smoke deoderizes animal and cooking smell. Rub fresh leaf on teeth to whiten them, or use in a mouthwash. Clary sage seed infused in water may be used to remove foreign matter from eyes painlessly. The leaf of sage helps combat diarrhea. The tea reduces sweating, sooths coughs and colds. Sage should not be taken in large doses over long periods.
[<<] Saponin root
Uses: used for cleaning hair, and for sensitive skin
[<<] Saw grass
Known locations: Fort Hold
Misc.: obnoxious weed
[<<] Scrub pine (I,H)
Growth form: Tree
General habitat: 'higher reaches' (dragonlovers guide)-hills/higher ground over the flat plains(?)
[<<]Seabeachplum
Growth form: Bush
Flowers: Pink blossoms
General habitat: low marsh valleys
Known location: beaches by Half-Circle Seahold.
Misc.: a few early sour plums available in spring
[<<]Sea bush
Growth form: bush
Known location: near Half-Circle seahold
Uses: produces an oily seed-pod in fall
[<<]Seagrass (stalks)
General habitat: ocean beaches(?)
Known location: beaches by Half-Circle Seahold.
Misc.: aromatic
[<<] Seaplant
Known location: near Half-Circle seahold
Uses: used braided by Menolly to join sections of her multiple pipes
[<<] Seaweeds
Growth form: (asummed)earth-type seaweed
General habitat: near shore.
Known location(s): beaches by Half-Circle seahold.
Uses: Boiled for the thick juice in the stalk, which is used as a preventative for many sicknesses and bone ailments. Also used to make balls of a sweet that can be chewed for hours, keeping mouth fresh and moist. Purple grass seed (unknown whether grass or seed is 'purple') used to flavor the balls. Leaves can be wrapped around meat to allow it to slow-cook.
[<<] Sequoi-like tree (N)
Growth form: similar to Terran sequois. Several triangular stems fuse together.
Known locations: Southern
Misc.: inimical to fire, tend to rot in center, to form shells of trees
[<<]Shallow-water sea grass
Growth form: 1 type clings to sandy bottom, 1 type clings to rock
Known location: near Half-Circle seahold
[<<] Shrub
Growth form: shrub
Known location:Southern Continent 2nd pass
Uses: gives off rich pungent odor when bruised
[<<] Sisal (N)
Known location: Fort Hold, Ista, Boll
Uses: spun into thread
[<<]Sky-broom (N)
Growth form: several dragonlengths tall. " The tall trunks terminate in bushy crowns of tuffed needles, much like the growth on Earth cedars. The wood is dense and metal-hard, covered with a rough mat-like material protection from threadfall."(DragonLovers) "Root systems that radiated in a great circle around the trunk to support the soaring limbs and tufted heights." (Renegades). Twined trunks, short tufts of spiny leavs. The crowns have coarse, short leavs. The tops are flat.
Known locations: Lemos. Skybroon trees begin at the northern Lemos end of the Keroon Plains.
Uses: construction
Misc.: the wood is difficult to work, but highly prized in the WoodcraftHall. Used for some harps, possibly other instruments. Highest quality of material for a painter's 'canvas' in the 2nd Pass.
[<<] Softwoods
Growth form: Tree
Known location:Lemos
Uses: used to make furniture
[<<]Soybeans (I)
Growth form: Terran soybean
Known locations: Fort Hold
Uses: edible, used in several dishes.
Outside Info: Grows to 2m. White or voilet flowers, hairy seed pods. Foliage is good stock food and fertilizer. It helps prevent heart disease and is valuable for diabetics since their sugars remain unabsorbed. Beans are made into soy sauce, tofu, soy 'milk', are sprouted for their shoots. Soya is ground into flour. The beans yield cooking oil, and lubricant. The plant stimulates blood circulation, detoxifies, lowers fevers and treats food poisoning.
[<<] Spearkeek
Growth form: white bulb
Uses: edible medicinal, febrifuge. Used by Moreta as a hopeful preventative for the plague.
[<<] Spiceroot
Growth form: Tuber(?)
[<<] Spongewood trees
Known location: south continent, Lemos
Misc.: grow quickly
[<<] Sticklebush (N)
Growth form:bush, grows in patches
Known Location:by trace to Fort Hold
Uses: Berries are used for preserves.
Misc. biggrin ried leavs and twigs have bitter, acrid, drying taste. In early spring there are no leavs to hide the hairlike, nearly invisible thorns that cover twig and branch. Sap rises in early spring, and it is the worst time to get caught in the bush. Stickle slivers can work their way through flesh into the blood. If a sliver reaches your heart, you could die from it. Most slivers can be pulled out by hand or tweezer, but some need poulticing to draw out the sliver.
[<<] Straw
Known locations: near benden weyr(?), Igen, Ruatha
Uses: bedding, in Igen used as insulation for straw-padded boxes containing pitchers of cold drinks.
[<<] Streamer
Known location: Southern, Cove hold
Uses: fronds woven into matting
[<<] Sugar Beets (I)
Growth form: Terran sugarbeet
Known locations: Fort Hold,several northern Holds
Uses: used for sweetining
[<<] Sungazers (N,H)
Form: small plant, grows mostly underground
Flowers: simiar to Earth's strawflower or windflower
[<<] Swamp grass
Growth form: broad, saw-edge blades.
Known location: Southern Weyr
[<<] Swedes
Known locations: Fort Hold
Uses: edible
[<<] Sweet cane (I)
Growth form: Terran sweet cane
Known locations:Nerat, Boll, Ista
Uses: made into sweetening
Outside Info: Grows up to 6m. Clump-forming rhizomes, perennial grass. The peeled cane is added to Thai fish stews. Cane juice yields brown and white sugars. Byproducts are made into molasses, syrup, and rum. Cane sugar sweetend, flavors and preserves foods by inhibiting microorganisims. Cane juice soothes symptoms of asthma and is given as an expectorant. In Asia, it is applied to wounds and boils. The root is a diuretic. Stem residue can be made into a wax for polish.
[<<] Sweet grass
Uses: Runner fodder
[<<] Sweetroot, sweet potatoe
Known locations: northern farms under Benden Weyr
Uses: can be eaten uncooked. Used to relieve/sweat out fever (febrifuge) and for headache(?).
Misc.: taken in crystal-like form.
[<<] Tansy
Uses: medicinal, used for a tonic. Relieves heart palpitations.
Outside Info: Grows to 120cm, with clusters of flat, mustard yellow flower heads in summer. It is a powerful insect repellant. Aerial parts are a poultice for bruises, rheumatism, and vericose veins. It may cause poisoning if taken internally. Rub leavs on meat to flavor. Boil flower for a golden yellow dye, boil the leaf for a yellow green woolen dye. Use in stimulating and astrigent baths for mature and sallow skin. Avoid if you have sensitive skin. Do not use during pregnancy.
[<<] Tarragon (I,H)
Growth form: herb
Uses: medicinal and/or cooking herb
Outside Info: Grows to 1m, greenish flowers. Flavors savory foods. Leaf tea stimulates the appetite, is a digestive, and a good tonic. Chewing leavs numbs taste buds before taking bitter medicine. The root reduced tooth ache. 2 main varieties exist- French, with a more refined flavor but the plant needs protection in the winter, and Russian, which is hartier. Add leaf to mayo for fish dishes, salad dressings, light soups. Goes well with poultry.
[<<] Teak-like hardwood tree, teakwood
Growth form: stumpy tree, with broad central trunk
Known location: nerat
[<<] Thymus
(H Thyme? Thyme was imported from Earth)
Known location: near Fort Hold
Uses: medidcinal herb, for coughs. Used on runners as well as humans.
Outside Info: There are many varieties, most grow to about 38cm. Lillac colored summer flowers. Thyme aids digestion of fatty foods. It is ideal for long, slow cooking of soups and stews. The essential oil is a stimulant and antisceptic- a nerve tonic used externally to treat depression, colds, muscular pain, and respiratory problems. The essential oil is added to acne lotions, soaps, toothpastes and mouthwashes. Thyme strenghtens the immune system. It suits food cooked slowly in wine, especially poultry, fish, hot vegetables, fruit salads, and jams. It is also used to flavor beer. Make a strong concoction to serve as a household disinfectant. Infuse with rosemary as a hair rinse to deter dandruff. The tea is a digestive tonic for hangovers, and may also relieve insomnia, poor capillary circulation, muscular pain, and stimulate production of white blood cells to resist infection.
[<<]Trace Moss
Growth form: moss, grows on ground
Known Location surprised n any runner trace in the Northern Continent.
Uses: to provide a firm but springy surface for runners
Misc: A runner can tell if he or she strays from a trace by the feel of the trace moss. The legendary 'Lopers' originally planted the moss, and it has been maintained since. The moss doesn't do as well in the heat of Boll as it does in the North. The moss doesn't stain runner shoes.
[<<] Tubers
General habitat: tubers of one form or another grow in many areas
Known location: Half-circle seahold, Ista, Southern, Southern Boll
Uses: edible
Misc.: Can be baked in mud in a cookout fire. (other foods including fish can also be baked in this manner.) White tubers (white roots?) found in Southern.
[<<]Turnips (I)
Growth form: Terran turnip
Known locations: Fort Hold, northern farms under Benden Weyr
Uses: edible
[<<] Tussilago
Uses: medicinal herb, used for coughs
Outside Info: Grows to 30cm. The plant is commonly known as colt's foot, tussilago is the Genus name. It is a perennial with creeping rhyzomes, dull yellow flowers in early spring that turn into a dandelion-like seed head. Tender leavs are eaten n soups and salads. Used to treat coughs, skin ulcers, and sores. Flowers reduce phlegm, inflammation, and stimulate immune cells. Use with caution externally- it contains small amounts of potentially damaging alkaloids, which research suggests sre destroyed when the plant is boiled. All parts of plant contain mucilage, good for coughs and bronchitis. Decoct leaves for colds, flu, and asthma.
[<<] Vegetable oil
Outside Info Outside Info: Many vegetable oils are used for cooking. Some are also used for massage oils, lotions, oils to rub down dragons with, and for soapmaking. By the beginning of the second Pass, soap as we know it probably still exists, as it was a 'luxury' one had to pay for at Bitra Hold under Chalkin's Holdership, but was generously supplied at other Holds and Weyrs. Most of the 'current Pass' books (Dragonrider trilogy, Harper Hall Trilogy, etc) make reference to sandsoap or soapsand. The Dragonlovers guide mentions that soap as we know it may indeed be a luxury durring the current pass because burnt wood is needed to make lye. However, the Masterharper of Pern makes reference to a bar of soap on one of Robinton's journeys. Lye can be created chemically, and it's my personal belief if the smith hall can create 'agenothree', it can probably make lye. Sandsoap may be soap flakes, an exfoliant mixture of fine sand and soap flakes, or a ground dried plant root that contains a saponin, sort of a natural soap. Animal fats are widely used to make soaps, but vegetable oils can also be added, or used exclusively, to obtain different properties in the soap.
[<<] Verbena
Known location: Benden Weyr Bowl
Outside Info: Lemon Verbena grows to 3m. Tiny, pale summer flowers. Leavs used to flavor drinks, fruit, sweet dishes, and to make herb tea. The tea is refreshing and mildly sedative- it soothes bronchial and nasal congestion and eases indigestion nausea, flatulance, stomach cramps, and palpitations. Leavs yield a green coloring. Leaf infusion sooths puffy eyes. Long term use of large amounts may irritate the stomach.
[<<] Vines, @Ista
Growth form: broad-leaf, climbing
Known locations: Ista
Uses: When its leavs are bruised, it releases a sap that will neutralize insect stings.
[<<] Vines, @Nerat
Growth form: Vine
Flowers: many-petaled ivory flowers that bloom late winter/early spring.
Known location: Nerat
[<<] Walnut
Growth form: tree
Known location: Benden Hold
Uses: edible nut
Outside Info: Grows up to 30m. In China, nuts were used to treat wheezing, back and leg pains, and constipation. Walnut oil is used in soapmaking, and as a cooking oil. The bark, leavs, and husks yield a brown dye. Crushed leavs treat skin eruptions.
[<<] Water lilies (N)
Growth form: float on surface of water, triangular shaped leavs, the flowers have white petals. Edible roots have a triangular cross-section.
Known locations: bowl lake of bended Weyr
Uses: roots are edible
[<<] Watermellon(?)
Known location: Southern Hold
Fruit: pink-fleshed interior, with a green rind.
Uses: edible fruit
[<<] Wedgenuts (Brazil nuts)
Known location: Nerat, Boll
Uses: edible nut
[<<]Wheat (I)
Growth form: Earth wheat
Known locations: Ruatha
Outsie Info: Wheat is used used instead of barley in some beers. These tend to be heavier in alchol content than your average ale. Wheat brews are considered summer brews, and is drunk mainly in the warmer weather. In the warmer parts of Pern, this might be made nearly year-round.
[<<]White bulb
Uses: medicinal, febrifuge
[<<] White roots
Known location: Landing
Uses: edible
[<<]White thorn
Uses: medicinal herb, anodyne, used to relieve heart palpitations.
[<<] Willow (I,H)
Growth form: tree
Known location: Nabol
General habitat: wet riverbanks
Uses: willow herb (same plant?) as a tea to keep arthritis under control. Used in combination with sage and wintergreen as a tea for headaches. Willowsalic used for headache, taken in crystal-like form.
Outside Info: Grows to 25m. Stem bark is a painkiller, fever reducer, and as a source of salicylic acid for asprin. Various bark extracts used as a sore throat gargle, to treat heartburn, stomach problems, food poisoning, relieve arthritic pain, and to remove corns. Infused leavs make a tea for nervous insomnia, and added to baths to ease rheumatism. Willows provide the best quality artist's charcoal, branches are used for weaving.
[<<]Wintergreen
Uses: used in combination with sage and willow as a headache tea.
Outside Info: Grows to 15cm, flowers in summer. Wintergreen oil is used to flavor candy and toothpaste. The oil contains menthyl salicylate, related to asprin. Oil is easily absorbed through skin, is astrigent, diuretic, and a stimulant. Used externially for muscle aches, especially in foot balms and treatments for rheumatism. In the Inuit of Labrador, the leavs are brewed for a tes to treat paralysis, headaches, aching muscles, and sore throats. The oil can irritate the skin, and must be used only under close medical supervision if it is to be taken internially. Wintergreen should be avoided or used with caution when pregnant.
[<<] Witch hazel
Uses: medicinal herb, used for burns.
Outside Info: A shrub with fragrant winter flowers that grows to 5m. A distillation from leavs and flower-bearing twigs is included in skin products for its disenfectant and astrigent properties, Used on chapped skin, bruisesm swelling, rashes, to help stop bleeding, reduce hemmoroids, and vericose veins. Seeds are edible, and the leavs can be brewed for a warming tea.
[<<] Withies
Growth form: water plant resembling Earth-like reeds
Known locations: Ruatha (Plateau Hold)
General habitat: near rivers
Uses: made into baskets
[<<] Woodruff
Uses: herb used to spice wine
Outside Info: Sweet woodruff grows to 45cm. Small clusters of brilliant white flowers in late spring. The leaf tea is a diuretic liver tonic and gentile sedative for children and the elderly. Bruised fresh leavs are an anti-congestant for wounds. Dry leavs scent linnen. The rhyzomes yild a red dye.
[<<] Yarrow
Uses: medicinal, for acne
Outside Info: Grows to 1m, dense flat white or pink flower heads from summer to fall. The peppery leaf is finely chopped into salads. Flowering tops are a digestive and cleaning tonic a diuretic, and used to reduce high blood pressure. Fresh leavs arrest bleeding and are applied as a poultice to wounds or are placed on shaving cuts. Flowers threat eczema, catarrh from allergies. The flower essential oil treats colds, flu, and inflammed joints. Native Americans used root decoction to strengthen muscles. Avoid during pregnancy. Overdose can make skin sensitive to sunlight. Add 1 finely chopped fresh leaf to each wheelbarrowfull to speed composting. Chew fresh leavs to aid toothache. The tea aids digestive problems, regulates menstrual flow, induces perspiration, cleanses the system, and as a cure for colds. Use as a mouthwash for inflammed gums.
[<<]Yellow fruit
(lemon, pear, or apple? one 'yellow fruit' is mentioned as citrus, Dragonlovers)
Known locations: Southern, Ista(citrus fruit)
Uses: fruit
[<<]Yellow-veined grass
Growth form: grassoid
Known locations: near Half-Circle seahold
Uses: 'salad' greens
Misc.: available in early spring
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:33 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:34 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:36 am
Credits
Leikkun, Nata, and the AtWoP Staffers for awesomness.
Meani's Site for Pernese plant references.
H. Schappell's Site on Dragonhealing.
The Pern Encyclopedia Site.
Dragonlover's Guide to Pern
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
