LoL HC: Saving Zaun - Subterranean Flora & Fungi
This is a list of cave-dwelling plants & fungi that could be used to create a more diverse cave-dwelling ecosystems for Zaun.
Plants that grow specifically in caves are called Speleophytes.
There are 4 types of plants that can grow in caves.
1. Speleophytes: These are plants that grow in caves & are adapted to low light levels. Speleophytes rely on nutrients from organic matter that accumulates in the cave, rather than photosynthesis, to survive. Examples include some species of ferns, mosses, & fungi.
2. Epiphytes: These are plants that grow on the surface of other plants, rather than in soil. Some epiphytes, such as some species of orchids, bromeliads, & ferns, are able to grow in the humid environments found in some caves.
3. Lithophytes: These are plants that grow on rocks or cliffs, rather than in soil. Some lithophytes, such as some species of ferns, mosses, & lichens, are able to grow in the moist, shaded environments found in some caves.
4. Bryophytes: This is the informal group name for mosses, liverworts & hornworts. They are non-vascular plants, which means they have no roots or vascular tissue, but instead absorb water & nutrients from the air through their surface (e.g., their leaves). These plants grow near cave entrances.
Plump Helmet (Fungi) = Wet & Dry - Spring, Summer, Autumn, & Winter - Food.
Pig Tail (???) = Wet & Dry - Summer & Autumn - Weave & Paper = A plant that corkscrews up from the ground, resembling the tail of a pig, thus its name. Used to make thread, cloth, & paper.
Cave Wheat (Wheat) = Wet & Dry - Summer & Autumn - Cooking = A variety of grain that grows underground. Can be milled into flour.
Sweet Pod (Bean) = Wet & Dry - Spring & Summer - Sugar, Syrup, Rum, & Food = Works similarly to soy beans in that they put nutrients back into the ground. A sort of sweet bean. Can be prossessed into sugar, syrup, brewed into rum, ect.
Quarry Bush (Nut) = Wet & Dry - Spring, Summer, & Autumn - Food & Soap = The leaves & nuts are stone gray with the whole thing, including the leaves & nuts, being vaguely shaped like the clubs playing card suit. Leaves are great filler & easy on space while nuts are edible & can also make Rocknut Oil. Oil can be used in place of tallow to create soap.
Dimple Cup (Dye Flower) = Wet & Dry - Spring, Summer, & Autumn - Midnight Blue Dye = A dark blue, cave-dwelling flower that grows close to the ground. Flower has 4 large petals.
Cave Carrot (Root Vegetable) = Wet & Dry - Year Round - Food = A brown, cave-dwelling tuber. Great for improving darkvision. A miner's best friend.
Fairy Rose (Magic Flower) = Wet & Dry - Spring - Ambiance & Honey = A magical, pink rose. One of the foundational flowers needed to create Arcana Honey & Arcana Royal Jelly (made when bees use Fairy Roses, Bluemist Flowers, & Red Magic Flowers to create honey). Not native to Zaun, but could, theoretically, be cultivated in the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.
Sweet Gem Berry = Wet & Dry - Fall - Food = A shiny, red Berry. By far the sweetest thing you'll ever smell. Delicious & extremely sweet. Extremely rare & expensive. Not native to Zaun, but could, theoretically, be cultivated in the Promenade provided pollution has been entirely gotten rid of. - It is a relative of the Miracle Berry, being sweet, but tasting like bland peaches & after eating it, sour foods turn sweet.
Ancient Fruit = A previously extinct, blue fruit with a spiral from millenia ago. A seed was mined up from Zaun's depths recently & botanists have been trying to revive it. While technically native to Zaun, it only grows on the Promenade & requires that the pollution has been entirely gotten rid of. - Tastes like a mix of cantaloupe melon & guava with a texture not dissimilar to a peach. Or if you've never tried those, it tastes like apple, honey, strawberry, & vanilla. Meaning it is unique, juicy, sweet, tender, & almost universally pleasant.
Pontata Root (Medicinal Root) = Wet & Dry - Year Round - Medicine = A thick, light brownish root. Has strong, medicinal benefits. Bitter.
Moondrop Flower (Flower) = Wet & Dry - Spring - Ambiance = Not native to Zaun, but could, theoretically, be cultivated in the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.
Bluemist Flower (Magic Flower) = Wet & Dry - Spring & Winter - Ambiance & Honey = A blue, magical flower. One of the foundational flowers needed to create Arcana Honey & Arcana Royal Jelly (made when bees use Fairy Roses, Bluemist Flowers, & Red Magic Flowers to create honey). Not native to Zaun, but could, theoretically, be cultivated in the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.
Red Magic Flower (Magic Flower) = Wet & Dry - Summer & Fall - Ambiance & Honey = A red, magical flower. One of the foundational flowers needed to create Arcana Honey & Arcana Royal Jelly (made when bees use Fairy Roses, Bluemist Flowers, & Red Magic Flowers to create honey). Not native to Zaun, but could, theoretically, be cultivated in the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.
Spore Blossoms (Ceiling Flower) = Wet & Dry - Year Round - Ambiance = Large flowers that grow on the ceiling. They spread glowing green spores. Is just very pretty & atmospheric. Firelights love them.
Glow Berries (Fruit) = Wet & Dry - Spring & Summer - Food = A type of cave-dwelling, ceiling vines that grow clusters of glowing, yellow berries. They need no direct sunlight, but prefer areas where water is found above them, on the surface, & leaks through the ceiling of the cave to drip down. Due to the presence of the River Pilt, these grow very well in Zaun. - They are very juicy with a grape-like skin & a tender, peach-like texture inside, with ovular, edible seeds & containing lots of vitamin D. It tastes like gooseberries & lilac. So, a tart grape flavor with a lemon-like sharpness & subtle sweetness that comes across like tropical fruit. It's flavor being like pineapple, cherry tomato, strawberry, & fig with a hint of lilac.
Dripleaf (Water Plant) = Wet - Year Round - Ambiance = Grows directly in water & actively cleans it. Long stalks that grow up to hang over the water with large leaves at the tops & hang over the water.
Shimmerleaf (Magic Flower) = Dry & Wet - Summer - Magic = A shinning, blue pompom-like flower.
Cinderpearl (Magic Flower) = Dry & Wet - Summer - Magic = A bright, orange, pompom-like flower.
Blinkroot = Grows the fastest of any herb. Lives underground. Gives off light, but only shines when the flower blooms, which it does irregularly, thus blinking. Can grow anywhere underground. - Most commonly used in potions dealing with sight. Either motion or the consumer's sight or other's ability to see the consumer.
Daybloom = A bright, yellow flower that usually grows during the day. (Only on the Promenade after the pollution has been reduced enough to let the sun & moon shine through.) - Most commonly used in potions dealing with the sun, safety, protection, & health.
Deathweed = A droopy, purple & gray herb that appears as a short, withered stalk. Deathweed blooms during a Blood Moon or a Full Moon at night. (Only on the Promenade after the pollution has been reduced enough to let the sun & moon shine through.) - Most commonly used in potions dealing in combat.
Fireblossom = Fireblossom is a type of herb which appears as a small, magma-colored flower. It grows underground & near exposed lava. Will bloom when the sun is setting, from 3:45 pm to 7:30 pm, unless it is raining. They require that they are at least partially submerged in lava to bloom, but will bloom any time of day once they are submerged. - Most commonly used in potions dealing with fire or heat.
Moonglow = Moonglow is a type of Herb which appears as a bent stalk with a drooping blue-white flower. It typically grows in the jungle. Moonglow only blooms at night, emitting its small pearls of blue-white light. (Only on the Promenade after the pollution has been reduced enough to let the sun & moon shine through.) - Most commonly used in potions dealing with the moon, utility, magic, & finding things.
Shiverthorn = Shiverthorn is a type of herb that grows naturally on snow & ice blocks of any type. Always bloom after a period of growth, & unlike other herbs, remain bloomed permanently thereafter. Fully grown Shiverthorn emits a glowing particle effect. (Only on the Promenade during winter.) - Most commonly used in potions dealing with ice, cold, or feeling; whether emotional, tactile, or other forms of sensations.
Waterleaf = Waterleaf is a type of herb which appears as a very small, aqua-colored sprout. It can be found growing on sand, pearlsand, silt, or gravel. It will only bloom once fully grown & when it is raining or snowing. While blooming, its appearance will change, becoming larger & speckled with aqua leaves. A blooming Waterleaf will also emit little globes of water. Note that it does not need to be raining or snowing directly on the plant in order for it to bloom: rain or snow simply needs to occur. It is required to be at least partially submerged in water before they bloom & drop seeds. (Can be grown on the Promenade or in the lower levels.) - Most commonly used in potions dealing with water, swimming, & liquids.
Mushroom Logs only work on the Promenade, but all mushrooms can grow on mycelium regardless of location.
Illumushroom = A glowing mushroom that grows specifically on mycelium or caves. Luckily, Zaun is ideal for mushroom caves, which makes it perfect for mushroom gardening. Commonly used in potions dealing with light.
Vile Mushroom = Can grow on any corrupted layer.
Vicious Mushroom = Can grow on any Crimson Layer.
Green Mushroom = Can grow in the underground or in caverns.
Teal Mushroom = Can grow in the underground or in caverns.
Vineapples (native name: Vinnáréva - vee-na-re-va) (Fruit) = Wet & Dry - Year Round - Food & Alcohol = A subterranean-growing wall vine that grows a round, wine-colored, juicy fruit that's exceptionally good for brewing. Grows in shade. Also called "Caveclimber Grapes" or "Spelunker's Apples."
Shineapples (native name: Jablesko - ya-bles-ko) (Fruit) = Wet & Dry - Year Round - Food & Alcohol = A variety of Vineapple that shines blue in the dark due to growing in complete darkness. Even better for brewing than Vineapples. More difficult to cultivate than regular Vineapples & takes more finesse to work with.
Frogstool (Fungus) = Wet - Year Round - Medicine = A poisonous, purple toadstool that's useful in medicines.
Glumgus (Fungus) = Wet - Fall & Winter - Food = A glowing, blue mushroom. High quality & delicious, but difficult to cultivate.
Pomagranite Mushtree (Mushroom Fruit) = Wet & Dry - Fall & Winter - Food = A giant, striped, pink & light blue, tree-like mushroom. From the cap, dark purple 'pomegranates' with rock-like formations at the bottom grow. A favorite of cave-dwelling fruit bats. The 'pomegranates' are not true fruit. They are more akin to Jackfruit, being growths.
Stoneheart Beets = Wet & Dry - Spring, Fall, & Winter - Food & Sugar = Beets that are a gray color with a tough outer skin, but a soft, supple, wine-colored inside. Can be made into sugar or cooked. Inspired by Heartbeets.
Water Cabbage = Wet - Year Round - Food = A blue, cabbage or lettuce-looking seaweed that lives on watery lake & riverbeds. Savory & somewhat fishy tasting. Good for making soup stock or making wraps when cave wheat stocks are down. Reminiscent of miso or nori. The leaves themselves are slightly iridescent.
Cavernberries = Wet & Dry - Spring & Summer - Food = A type of Zaunite native edible plant species. They are used to make juice. (Original Ideas: Grows on a bush with greenish-black leaves. The berries themselves are dark blue & aggregate like raspberries. Grows from pink flowers like Clerodendrum trichotomum.)
Piltover Shaddock = Wet & Dry - Spring, Summer, & Fall - Food = Native to Piltover, it shares a name with the real-world Pomelo, a large bitter-sweet fruit with a thick rind. Gangplank's 6 Citrus Courier is indifferent to these. The etymology of the name of these fruit on Runeterra is unknown, as the name 'Shaddock' actually comes from the name of the captain who introduced the Pomelo to Barbados. (Original Ideas: While not native to the Undercity, it grows in Piltover &, thus, could theoretically grow in the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.)
Puffcap = Wet - Year Round - Poison & Traps = A poisonous mushrooms that grow in the toxic sewers of Zaun. Puffcaps have are green in color, with purple, red, or pink polka dots. They can grow to immense sizes. These poisonous mushrooms are very dangerous for consumption, as they would give the consumer hallucinations. With enough consumed, can result in death. They are also very volatile, seemingly being able to explode. Their spores & odors are able to poison & kill most of its victims. Puffcaps are used for a giant underground black market where they are collected by Whumps & brought back to the 4 Chump Whump Yordle or the 3 Puffcap Peddler for further trade.
Medicinal Elasticas = Wet & Dry - Spring, Summer, & Fall - Tubes = A type of plant native to the island city of Fallgren. Its natural elastic properties are used for creating Zaunite tubes. (Original Ideas: While not native to Zaun, it's used frequently enough there that I wouldn't doubt that a business-savy botanist might try to find a way to cultivate them for a profit.)
Honeyfruit = Wet - Spring & Summer - Food & Medicine = A green plant with furling limbs much like fiddlehead ferns. They grow edible, green, aggregate fruit. Native to Summoner's Rift & can be seen harvested near the city of Palcyff. Its healing properties are also used for medicinal purposes such as Health Potions. Being a semi-aquatic plant, it can be seen on the shores of rivers, lakes, & other bodies of fresh water. (Original Ideas: Not native to Zaun, but could, theoretically, be cultivated in the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.)
Scryer's Bloom = Dry & Wet - Spring & Summer - Tea = A teal stem with a blue, orb-like flower. It has magical properties, used for clairvoyance. (Original Ideas: When made into a special tea, Scryers & Soothsayers' abilities are temporarily amplified. If processed correctly, can also temporarily impart True Sight or increased intuition upon the imbiber; extremely difficult & complicated. Not native to Zaun, but could, theoretically, be cultivated in the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.)
Duskpetal = Dry & Wet - Spring, Summer, & Fall - Sleep Tea = Purple & pink flowers that give off a faint magical blue light with a purple stem & leaves that grow on edges of cliffs on Mount Targon. They only bloom at night, during a full moon. The fragrance of the Duskpetal is said to be sweet & unique, but fleeting, as the flower is as delicate as moonlight itself. It's said that only the Lunari have the knowledge and the skill to harvest them safely. They use the dust of a Duskpetal to magically enhance their weapons. (Original Ideas: While only the Lunari can use Duskpetals for their intended purpose, outsiders have discovered that when made into a tea, they are effective as a somnolent. Though not native to Zaun, they could potentially be cultivated on the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.)
Naap = Dry & Wet - Spring, Summer, & Fall - Food = A type of edible plant native to the areas around Rokrund. Its roots, having a similar appearance to onions & carrots, are used for baking. (Original Ideas: Though not native to Zaun, they could potentially be cultivated on the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.)
Serpentleaf = Dry & Wet - Summer - Poison & Medicine = A type of predatory flower native to the Nistaram Forest of Galrin. The flowers lure insects with its scent & color. Some animals have adapted an immunity to the flowers poisons, eating it from the inside when its leaves close. Serpentleaf poultice, if properly made, is used as an effective healing agent that dulls the pain but not the mind. If the flower isn't picked properly, its leaves are poisonous. (Original Ideas: Though not native to Zaun, they could potentially be cultivated on the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced.)
Pearl of the Moon = A type of flower found on the Shuriman Continent. Sold in the markets of Kumangra, their distinct scent is heavily sought after by flower collectors. Shuriman folk tales tell that if a person hung some Pearls of the Moon over their hearth, it would protect them from dangers such as the Voidborn. (Original Ideas: If properly processed into a medicine, could feasibly be used to help negate the mutation effects of Shimmer. Though not native to Zaun, they could potentially be cultivated on the Promenade provided pollution has been reduced. I imagine that they resemble Anouska Roselilies, but with pearlescent coloring & only blooms at night.)
Cancerian Apples (Water Fruit) = Wet - Spring, Summer, & Fall - Food = A 'tree' that lives in water & grows like seaweed or kelp with a thick trunk that splits into vine-like limbs. At the end of each limb is a bunch of lilypad-like leaves, the topmost of which floating on the surface of the water. On these leaves grow apple-like fruits that are shaped vaguely like rounded, cartoonish crabs. Jokingly called Crapples.
Lantern Trees (Lucernový Strom, pronounced loo-ter-no-vee strom) (Bioluminescent Pear Tree) = Wet & Dry - Spring, Summer, & Fall - Food & Light = A cyan, bioluminescent, subterranean tree that grows large, upside-down, flame pink or pink-orange, gloriosa lily-like flowers that eventually turn into Lanternfruit (Zářícívoce, pronounced za-shee-tee-vo-tse). The leaves only glow before the lantern flowers bloom & fruit grow; afterwards, only the flowers & fruit glow. When the leaves do glow, it's so light that it's barely noticeable except in the deep dark. Due to there being less surface area & thus more energy for fewer things, the fruit & flowers glow much brighter than the leaves. Lanternfruit can be yellow or green, always with dark green stripes, are pear-shaped, & delicious. - Lanternfruit can be yellow or green, always with dark green stripes, are pear-shaped, & delicious with a firm, crisp, & buttery texture inside. They taste like a mix of a Concorde pear & kiwi. So, their flavor is slightly acidic, filled with sweetness with a hint of tanginess & spice. A bit like a mix of apples, honey, pineapples, & strawberries with a hint of cinnamon.
Robustica Flower (Tea Flower) = Wet & Dry - Spring & Summer - Caffeine = This white flower is high in caffeine &, when the leaves are dried, roasted, & ground before being boiled, you get the best effect. Its leaves & stem are dark orange. Each cup has 200 milligrams of caffeine. Only grows on the Promenade.
Labyrinth Maize (Starch) = Wet & Dry - Spring & Summer - Food = A type of hybridized corn that grows more like nuts, the husk being harder & acting as a shell. As a result the kernels inside are more tender, but have a heartier flavor. Interestingly, if you look at the cobs, they have gaps between that form winding mazes. A common food for kids as they try to figure out how to navigate the mazes. Eating the corn is their prize for doing so. As a type of corn, it actively cleans the soil it's planted in.
Trench Potatoes (Root Vegetable) = Wet & Dry - Fall & Winter - Food = Just a variety of bronze-looking potato that can grow in caves.
Geode Pumpkin (Gourd) = Wet & Dry - Summer & Fall - Food = A stone gray gourd with dark grey vines & leaves that grows in caves. Has a hard outer shell, but soft, gooey, purple innards & hard, dark purple, rock-like seeds. Like an amethyst geode.
Bail Rice (Grain) = Wet - Spring & Summer - Food = A crossbred rice plant that grows in the Wastes, a swampland to the south-western edge of the city of Zaun. The grains are pinkish in color.
Mléčná Houba (pronounced mai-ch-na ho-ba) (Fungus) = Wet - Spring, Summer, & Fall - Food = Also called Milk Mushrooms. They have short stems with large, round, wide, brown caps with white splotches on them. Has a creamy flavor. Can be processed into a mild milk substitute high in calcium. Has a slightly earthy, mildly mushroomy undertone. The milk is slightly brownish in color.
Fissure Tomatoes (Tomato) = Wet - Spring & Summer - Food = Bright orange, subterranean tomatoes on teal vines.
Chasmcorn (Peppercorn) = Wet & Dry - Summer & Fall - Seasoning = A type of green peppercorn that grows underground. Resembles a heap of moss at first glance.
Kayn's Crypt Pepper (Pepper) = Dry - Year Round - Spice = (Also called a Zaunite Reaper or Ashen Wrath or Scorchleaf Pepper) Pepper plant that's the color of char, the edges of the leaves glow a white-orange as if burning. The peppers are a dark purple. Grows near lava pools. The peppers are used to make Struchkovet, which is basically purple cayenne powder. The leaves can be used to create a heat resistant balm.
Čokoláda Lanýž (pronounced 'choco-lah-dah lah-neesh,' literally translates to chocolate truffle) (Fungus) = Wet - Spring, Fall, & Winter - Food = A variety of truffle with a rich, dark chocolate-y flavor & earthy, mushroomy undertones. Also called Chocolate Cave Truffles. Used to make Čokoládanýž (choco-lah-dah-neesh), or Zaunite Chocolate, which is a chocolate substitute. Can also be used to make Chocolate Truffle Oil.
Solarishroom (Fungi) = Wet & Dry - Year Round - Lighting & Food = A yellow, spotted mushroom that shines brightly in the dark. The first were said to have grown from the tears of the Golden Sister, reinforced by the fact that they are proven to be infused with sun magic & give off sunlight. Full of vitamin D. So much so that it takes a special process to prepare them to be safe for consumption. Without said process, one could easily die of radiation poisoning. However, it is delicious. Having a very bright & warm, comforting flavor. Retains a mushroomy taste, but somehow isn't as earthy as other fungi. Too much at once, however, can make you sick.
Noctruffle (Fungi) = Wet & Dry - Summer & Fall - Somnolent = A green, yellow, & blue mushroom that gives off a soothing scent. Tastes & smells faintly of lavender, chamomile, & honey. Both the scent & meat of the mushroom is potently somnolent in nature & if you're not careful with how much you eat, it could send you into a sleep so deep you never wake up. Only the scent of the Mawkap can counter its effects.
Mawkap (Fungi) = Wet & Dry - Summer & Fall - Smelling Salts & Laxative = A horrendously virose orange mushroom with a yellow top. So putrid is it that it easily acts as a natural smelling salt. Has a vile taste & should never be eaten under any circumstances. Will cause violent nausea & vomiting to the point of internal bleeding. Can easily kill you if you don't act quickly enough & it won't be a pleasant death either. On the other hand, a tiny amount acts as a damn good laxative.
Cragplant (Aubergine) = Wet & Dry - Spring & Summer - Food = A brown, cave-dwelling eggplant.
Sump Yam (Root Vegetable) = Wet & Dry - Fall & Winter - Food = A copper, cave-dwelling sweet potato.
Shallot Root (Root Vegetable) = Wet & Dry - Spring & Summer - Food = A root vegetable that tastes much like shallots or leeks. A dark, almost black, shade of teal.
Abysmal Garlic (Garlic) = Wet & Dry - Fall & Winter - Food = A black garlic with a deeper, darker, more mature flavor than surface garlic when cooked right. The downside is that it's more pungent too.
Žebro Kapustazelí (pronounced jebro ka-pu-sta-ze-li) (Leafy Vegetable) = Wet & Dry - Fall & Winter - Food = A leafy green-type vegetable that tastes like a mix between cabbage, lettuce, & kale. Is slightly bioluminescent. The leaves being dark violet, but the stem gives off a faint, lilac light. This makes the leaves look like they have an illuminated skeleton. Highly nutritious. Colloquially called Skeleton Cabbukale.
Skořikaštan (pronounced sko-ree-kash-tan) (Nut Tree) = Wet & Dry - Fall & Winter - Spice = A variety of nut tree. Its nuts, when roasted, give off an unsweetened cinnamony smell & taste, if also chestnutty. Colloquially called Mock Cinnamon or Cinnanuts. Are typically roasted & ground into a fine powder called Skořichový (pronounced sko-ree-ho-vee) or Cinnanut Powder. When mixed with pod or beet sugar, it's instead called Sweet Skořichový or Cinnanut Sugar.
Spelunker's Nettle (Pilea metallicus) (Nettle) = Wet & Dry - Spring, Summer, & Fall - Purifying = The first successful attempt to hybridize a phytoremedial speleophytal plant. A crossbreed of the Ionian Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) & the Cave-Dwelling Nettle (Pilea cavernicola).
Note: To crossbreed plants, both need to be of the same genus.
Most real world plants that can be found in caves are called sciophytes, meaning they live at the entrances of caves, so these would live on Zaun's higher levels.
Real Plants that can live underground:
Real Mushrooms that can live underground:
Types of Root Vegetables:
Yams, beets, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, carrots, yuca, kohlrabi, onions, garlic, celery root (or celeriac), horseradish, daikon, turmeric, jicama, Jerusalem artichokes, radishes, and ginger.
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