Ghyll:Darseed

Well, if forced, I think I can find something in my DIB file on this --Doctor Phineas Crank 20:30, 25 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Also known as; dar, dar flower, darseed flower

Identification and Field Marks: The darseed flower bi-annual plant in the Oh-Look-A-Pretty-Flower Family which grows up to 1 unanit and has a flower head that is as much as 3 nanits across and notable for turning to face towards the two moons of Ghyll, Pinky and Perky. In the Spring the flowers face towards Pinky and in the Later Summer, they face towards Perky. The stalk is a brilliant, emerald green with a fine network of pale yellow veins. The petals of the flower are the deepest cerulan, while the darseeds themselves are actually a brilliant ultraviolet with the finest velvety infrared highlights. Of course, most of the seed is actually a hard, rather foul-tasting husk which contains a sweeter fruit. It is this inner fruit which is generally what is referred to as the darseed.

Bloom Period: Darseed flowers are one of those rarest of all plants, the bi-annual, blooming in both the late Spring and the late Fall. It should be noted, however, that darseeds collected in the Spring are fit only for replanting and will not do for Calends Gala judging.

Similar Species: Oddly enough, the darseed has no known relatives, or offshoots, though it is rumored that a certain sect of religious farmers is working on a "more humble" variety that has bowed heads.

Habitat: Darseed flowers have been cultivated for so long in Ghyll that no one is quite sure where they originated. They are successfully farmed as far North as Baleman and at least as far South as Iganefta. Most scholars agree that, given enough water and manure, darseed flowers could be grown almost anywhere.

Economic Importance: Of chief importance is darseed oil, extracted from not only the seeds, but also the flower petals and stalk. Indeed, nothing is wasted in darseed oil production! Darseed oil is used for cooking, as a carrier oil and is used even to light the way of religious zealots in their traditional darseed oil lamps. The pulp remaining after the darseeds and plants have been processed for oil is used to make the fine paper on which the Folktown Records weekly newspaper is printed and the lesser pulp is ground into a mash to be used as a livestock feed.

The darseed husks, which in ancient times were discarded, have also found use with Occultologists and other scholars in the making of special inks. It is especially favored by those wishing to make inks invisible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, this was discovered as a byproduct of a hair restoration tonic sold by that most infamous of charlatans, Professor Ignatius Maximillian Albertus Crank (no relation, thank you!).

Certain experiments by the Brothers of the Lantern seem to show that it is possible to materially improve the atmosphere in damp and mouldering neighbourhoods by the planting of the darseed flower. There is some mysterious ozone or other atmosphere given off by the darseed flower which is potent in destroying the malarial condition of such an area. The darseed, if planted on the most restricted scale in a garden or any ground close to the house, will be found to speedily increase the dryness and salubrity of the atmosphere.

Of great social importance is the traditional darseed judging at the Calends Gala. It is at this event that darseed farmers dress in their brightly colored clothes, four-tassled hat and false nose, bring their wares for judging. Many a darseed farming family fortune has been made or lost at this seemingly light-hearted event! It is also tradtionally the time when the future darseed farmers of Ghyll are betrothed to their future wives by clasping their brightly gloved hands and giving their "Four H Pledge". There are regional variations on this Pledge, but it generally runs as follows: "For my farm, my county, my country, and my world, I pledge my head to clear thinkin', my hands to thy service, my health to better livin' and my heart to thee."

Of special note is the traditional method of harvest...